HL Deb 24 September 2002 vol 638 c221WA
Baroness Noakes

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What assumptions they have made for activity levels, the levels of inflation specific to the National Health Service and efficiency changes for each of the years 2002–03 to 2007–08 (HL5527)

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath

The following assessments were made for the National Helath Service between 2002–03 and 2007–08:

Activity growth was broadly based on historic trends, plus the expected increase required to meet the access targets:

Inflation is broadly based on historic trends; and

An estimate of the potential efficiency gains, which culminated in the new Public Service Agreement target:

"Value for money in the NHS and personal social services will improve by at least 2% per annum, with annual improvements of 1% in both cost efficiency and service effectiveness."