§ Mr. Andrew TurnerTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how much money was earmarked for palliative care for the three years ending 2003–04(a) for the central south coast area and (b) for each other part of England; and how much of each sum was (i) committed and (ii) spent in 2001–02. [60847]
§ Ms BlearsThe Government have pledged in the NHS cancer plan that funding for specialist palliative care services, including hospices, will increase by £50 million per annum by 2004. This investment is included in the overall national health service investment for implementing the cancer plan. How the £50 million is deployed locally will depend on the needs of the area. Cancer networks have drawn up service delivery plans on palliative care to review the level of services offered in their area and these will ensure that each network has a range of palliative care services available. We are currently reviewing the outturn position for 2001–02 and the progress in that year.