To ask the Secretary of State for Health with reference to the answer of 20 October 2008, Official Report, column 64W, on health centres, what assessment he has made of the effect of a minimum income guarantee for a new health centre on existing patient lists at general practices. (242453)

Providing an income guarantee to a new general practitioner (GP)-led health centre will have no impact on the funding of existing GP practices.

It is for each primary care trust to determine locally the funding for their health centre, including what percentage of income is to be guaranteed to the provider and for how long.