§ Mr. Frank FieldTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many primary care trusts had finance directors in post on 1 April; and what the total budget is for these organisations with finance directors in place; [54715]
(2) how many primary care trusts were in place on 1 April; and what the total budget is for these organisations. [54716]
§ Mr. HuttonThree hundred and three primary care trusts (PCTs), including Northumberland which has been designated a care trust, were in operation on 1 April 2002. 781W We have allocated £41.5 billion in total to health authorities (HAs) for 2002–03. Of this, £40.9 billion has been shared by HAs between their constituent PCTs.
The number of PCTs that had directors of finance in place on 1 April 2002 was 208. Acting directors of finance are in place where a permanent appointment has not yet been made. Their share of HA allocations was £27.9 billion for 2002–03.
An element of the allocation shared between PCTs will be retained at HA level for HA level functions, collective commissioning and other items funded at HA level. Information on this is not collected centrally.