NHS: Finance

Sandra Gidley
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what market forces factor is used for each NHS trust.

Mr. Bradshaw
The market forces factor indices that are used to inform central payments to National Health Service Trusts and NHS Foundation Trusts for activity provided at national tariff in 2007-08. Copies have been placed in the Library.

Mr. Lansley
To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 15 November 2007, Official Report, column 381W on NHS: finance, (1) whether the NHS is now expected to plan and manage its expenditure on a separate near-cash and non-cash basis;

(2) on what date his Department agreed with HM Treasury that the NHS would not plan or manage its expenditure on a separate near-cash and non-cash basis.

Mr. Bradshaw
Under the current financial regime, the national health service is not expected to manage its expenditure on a separate near-cash and non-cash basis. While HM Treasury require Departments to manage expenditure on a near-cash and non-cash basis, it is a matter for the Department to decide whether this requirement is extended to the NHS.