To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether GP practices will be given financial budgets for special services when GP practice-based commissioning is introduced in the NHS. (93206)

The move to practice-based commissioning (PBC) does not affect the commissioning and provision of specialised services. Specialised services are not covered by PBC. Specialised services are high-cost, low-volume interventions and treatments that are commissioned by groups of primary care trusts, and it is therefore not appropriate to devolve this commissioning to practice level.