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Resource Allocation

Mr. Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the Advisory Committee on resource allocation will report on its review of the Your NHS Funding Formula; and if he will make the report public. [75179]

Mr. Hutton: We are currently considering the recommendations of the advisory committee on resource allocation for a new National Health Service funding formula. Later this autumn when we announce the revenue allocations for the next three years we will explain changes to the formula. The team who carried out the research into the new formula plan to publish a full report of their findings.

21 Oct 2002 : Column 130W

Mr. Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much his Department has made available for community equipment services in each of the last three years. [75858]

Jacqui Smith: Community equipment services are funded from National Health Service and social services general allocation and the amount made available by local commissioners each year is not collected centrally.

In addition to general funding allocations, additional funding has been made available. In 2001–02 and 2002–03, #11.7 million and #15.4 million were included in baseline allocations to health authorities. The Government also took account of the need for additional investment in the personal social services settlement for 2001–02 to 2003–04, to enable councils to contribute an appropriate share to the expansion of these services. These additional allocations are recurring amounts.

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