To ask the Secretary of State for Health which schemes his Department has chosen for the pilot of the individualised budget programme; how many patients will participate in the pilot programme; and what methodology will be used in the assessment of individualised budgets. (285769)

Following an application process earlier this year, we have provisionally selected 70 pilot sites, subject to a further progress check. A full list of provisional pilot sites is available from the Department’s website at:

www.dh.gov.uk/en/Healthcare/Highqualitycareforall/DH_090018

and a copy has been placed in the Library.

Pilot sites will initially only offer models of personal health budget that do not involve direct payments to the patient. Subject to the passage of the Health Bill, direct payments would become an additional option for pilots during 2010.

We have not set any expectations about numbers of patients in each pilot site. This will be for local sites to decide as they develop their proposals.

We are currently in the process of selecting an evaluation team. We published an invitation to tender in April, describing what areas the evaluation should explore and inviting bidders to propose a suitable methodology.