HC Deb 26 March 2002 vol 382 cc937-8W
Mr. Heald

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how he plans to deal with the revenue consequences of capital schemes which are in progress, but not yet in use, in making allocations to PCTs; and if he will list the(a) PCTs affected and (b) related capital schemes. [46413]

Mr. Hutton

We currently allocate funding to health authorities, and they allocate funding to primary care trusts, on the basis of the relative needs of their populations. A weighted capitation formula is used to determine each health authority and primary care trust's fair share of available resources, to enable them to commission similar levels of services for populations in equal need.

In future the intention is that allocations will be made direct to primary care trusts. This is subject to the passage of legislation through Parliament. Allocations will continue to be based on the principle of weighted capitation. PCTs will meet the revenue consequences of capital schemes that are in progress but not completed from these allocations.

Information for (a) and (b) is not centrally available.

Mr. Heald

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how he plans to allocate money to PCTs in order that they can meet expenditure associated with functions delegated to them; and when such allocations will be made. [46414]

Mr. Hutton

We currently allocate funding to health authorities, and they allocate funding to primary care trusts, on the basis of the relative needs of their populations. A weighted capitation formula is used to determine each health authority and primary care trust's fair share of available resources, to enable them to commission similar levels of services for populations in equal need.

In future the intention is that allocations will be made direct to primary care trusts. This is subject to the passage of legislation through Parliament. Allocations will continue to be based on the principle of weighted capitation.

We announced allocations to health authorities for 2002–03 on 6 December 2001. Health authorities are setting initial primary care trust allocations for 2002–03 for those functions for which primary care trusts will be responsible from 1 April 2002. Subject to Parliament the intention is that further functions will be devolved to primary care trusts from 1 October 2002. Primary care trust allocations will be reset to cover these functions.