| Previous Section | Index | Home Page |
3 Mar 2006 : Column 1037W—continued
Ambulance Trusts
Mr. Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she expects that the posts of chairmen in the ambulance trusts will be advertised. [53522]
Mr. Byrne [holding answer 27 February 2006]: Advertising for the appointment of individuals to a pool of potential chairs of ambulance trusts began on 22 January 2006. If no changes to configuration are made, no appointments will be made and the pool will be disbanded.
Centrally-funded Expenditure
Mr. Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what total expenditure on centrally funded initiatives, services and special allocations has been in each year since 1997–98; and what anticipated expenditure on centrally funded services and special allocations will be in 2005–06; [46591]
(2) what the total expenditure has been on (a) centrally financed initiatives and services and (b) special allocations for prevention in each financial year since 1997–98; and what the allocation for each is expected to be in 2005–06. [48459]
Mr. Byrne: Total expenditure, including allocations to national health service bodies, from the centrally funded initiatives services and special allocations programme is shown in table 1.
In 2005–06, the allocation is expected to be about £4 billion less as a result of primary care trust allocations being enhanced to include items previously included in these special allocations. In addition to the above central programme, the following sums for the HIV prevention special allocation were included in health authority (HA) initial allocations. From 2002–03 these funds were incorporated into HA baselines, which is shown in table 2.
| £ million | |
|---|---|
| 1997–98 | 52 |
| 1998–99 | 53 |
| 1999–2000 | 53 |
| 2000–01 | 55 |
| 2001–02 | 55 |
Clinical Practice (Alternative Pricing)
Mr. Lansley:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health by what means best clinical practice and quality can be incorporated into a method of alternative pricing as
3 Mar 2006 : Column 1038W
stated in her speech to the NHS Confederation of 10 January 2006, how she envisages such a system of pricing would work in practice; and if she will make a statement. [42933]
Mr. Byrne: We keep the development of payment by results under review and we are considering how best to incentivise good clinical practice.
Community Hospitals
Dr. Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will place in the Library copies of (a) all guidance, instructions and requests sent to West Wiltshire primary care trust (PCT) on community hospitals since the publication of the Government White Paper 'Our health, our care, our say' and (b) all correspondence relating to community hospitals from the PCT received by the Department since publication of the White Paper. [52732]
Mr. Byrne [holding answer 27 February 2006]: No specific guidance, instructions or requests have been issued to primary care trusts (PCTs) on community hospitals since the publication of the Government White Paper, 'Our health, our care, our say'.
No correspondence has been received from West Wiltshire PCT relating to community hospitals since the publication of the White Paper.
On February 16, departmental officials wrote to strategic health authorities and a copy of this letter will be placed in the Library.
Community Practitioners
Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the ability of voluntary organisations to provide training, support and professional development for community practitioners, if such groups were to provide health services. [42403]
Mr. Byrne [holding answer 16 January 2006]: Voluntary and independent sector organisations have traditionally been involved in providing an invaluable element of care and support in community settings. The standards applying to training and education in the voluntary sector are the same as applying in the national health service. Pre-registration education is the domain of the regulatory bodies who will have a direct interest in quality-assuring it. Other regulatory requirements like re- certification or re-registration will shape the continuing professional development available to individual professionals from their employers.
Counsellors/Psychotherapists
Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to consult the voluntary sector in drawing up plans for the regulation of counsellors and psychotherapists. [54096]
Jane Kennedy:
As with the introduction of statutory regulation of any aspirant professional group, the Health Act 1999 requires a three-month public consultation before the appropriate legislation for regulation can be laid before Parliament.
3 Mar 2006 : Column 1039W
Demographics
Mr. Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment her Department has made of the impact of the projected increases in the population of England upon demand and capacity in the national health service. [50790]
Mr. Byrne [holding answer 13 February 2006]: When preparing for each spending review, the Department undertakes an assessment of requirements and funding pressures. This would include a consideration of growth in activity, pay and prices, any movement in the costs of prescribing, provisions and the cost of capital. A key element in our assessment is an estimation of the impact of demographic changes, in particular, the impact of population growth on the demand for services.
The revenue allocations for 2006–07 and 2007–08 take account of projected population changes. We have used the best available population data so that the national health service can properly take account of the challenges faced in areas with growing populations.
Departmental Assets
David T.C. Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the items valued at over £100 that have been reported as stolen from buildings occupied by her Department in the past 12 months. [43435]
Mr. Byrne: The Department does not differentiate between stolen, missing or lost equipment. The losses recorded for the period 1 January 2005 to 31 December 2005, with a value of over £100.00 are shown in the table.
The Department takes the security and protection of its assets very seriously. Its policy and procedures are constantly reviewed. As a further deterrent, all
3 Mar 2006 : Column 1040W
Departmental portable equipment is forensically marked with an invisible dye called Smartwater. This also assists in the recovery of lost or stolen equipment. The Department's security unit continues to raise security awareness among its staff, including the secure handling, transportation and storage of portable equipment.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |