HC Deb 19 May 2003 vol 405 cc618-20W
Andrew George

To ask the Secretary of State for Health which(a) PCTs, (b) hospital trusts and (c) other trusts ended the year 2002–03 in debt. [112470]

Mr. Hutton

The audited information in respect of the 2002–03 financial position of all national health service trusts will be published in their individual annual accounts and will be available centrally in autumn 2003. We have no plans to publish un-audited information. These figures are considered to be exempt under Part II of the Code of Practice on Access to Government information.

Andrew George

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what advice his Department has given hospital and health trusts, who ended either or both of the last two financial years in debt, on the relative importance of(a) clearing their debts and (b) meeting government performance targets; [112472]

(2) what guidance has been offered to those hospital and health trusts which have (a) ended the year in debt and (b) ended at least the last two years in debt; [112471]

(3) what targets his Department has set (a) primary care, (b) health and (c) hospital trusts for (i) debt recovery and (ii) end of year debt avoidance. [112476]

Mr. Hutton

All national health service organisations have been asked to plan for and achieve financial balance.

Where this is not achieved, in line with the Government's policy of the shifting the balance of power, discussions are undertaken locally with relevant commissioners and if required the relevant strategic health authority. These discussions should result in the joint development and agreement of a robust and realistic plan for financial recovery together with achievement of non-financial targets.

In 2002–03, the shadow NHS Bank has made available a total of £100 million to three strategic health authority areas; Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire (£45 million), Surrey and Sussex (£30 million) and Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire (£25 million) to assist with managing financial difficulties within these health economies.

Andrew George

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) which and how many(a) PCTs, (b) hospital trusts and (c) other health trusts have been permitted by his Department or the strategic health authority to carry forward accumulated debt; and in which cases and for what period of financial years they have been permitted to carry the debt forward; [112473]

(2) what advice his Department has offered to each of the PCTs, hospital and health trusts which have requested authority to carry forward end of year debt (a) for one year, (b) for two years and (c) for three or more years. [112475]

Mr. Hutton

In line with the Government's policy of shifting the balance of power, discussions about such issues are undertaken locally with relevant commissioners and if required the relevant strategic health authority. The audited information in respect of the 2002–03 financial performance of all primary care trusts and national health service trusts will be published in their individual annual accounts and will be available centrally in autumn 2003.

Andrew George

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assistance is available from(a) his Department and (b) a strategic health authority to PCTs and hospital or health trusts which experience (i) avoidable and (ii) unavoidable end of year debt. [112474]

Mr. Hutton

The Department and the national health service have to live within the overall spending limits agreed by Parliament. In doing so no distinction is made between 'avoidable' or 'unavoidable' end of year debt positions when managing this overall position.

In 2002–03, the shadow NHS bank has made available a total of £100 million to three strategic health authority areas; Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire (£45 million), Surrey and Sussex (£30 million) and Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire (£25 million) to assist with managing financial difficulties within these health economies.

Andrew George

To ask the Secretary of State for Health which PCTs inherited a debt legacy from their predecessor organisations or authority; and of these how many and which PCTs ended their(a) first and (b) second financial years in debt. [112477]

Mr. Hutton

Information on primary care trusts inherited debt legacy is not collected centrally.

The audited annual accounts for 2000–01 and 2001–02 show no primary care trust reported an overspend against their revenue resource limit. The audited information in respect of the 2002–03 financial performance of all primary care trusts will be published in their individual annual accounts and will be available centrally in autumn 2003.