To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will place in the Library a copy of table 18, referred to in his Department’s evidence to the review body on doctors’ and dentists’ remuneration. (163388)

The Health Department’s written evidence to the review body on doctors’ and dentists’ remuneration has been placed in the Library and is also available at:

www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_080117

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will break down table 2.3 on page 16 of his Department’s evidence to the review body on doctors’ and dentists’ remuneration by expenditure on each type of pressure in each financial year by programme; and how the 3 per cent. efficiency savings were calculated. (163376)

Revenue allocations are made directly to primary care trusts (PCTs), as it is for PCTs to determine how to use the funding to commission services to meet the healthcare needs of their local populations. Table 2.3 in the Department’s evidence to the review body on doctors’ and dentists’ remuneration provides a central estimate of national health service cost pressures. The cost of individual programmes will depend on local decisions on the implementation of NHS priorities.

The Department needs to ensure that the best value is secured for the investment in the NHS. The requirement to make 3 per cent. year on year efficiency savings enables the Government to build on the Spending Review 2004 efficiency programme, and was considered to be achievable based on the value for money delivery plans that all Departments were required to submit as part of the current Comprehensive Spending Review.