Written question asked by Iain Wright (Labour) on Tuesday, 13 July 2010, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 15 July 2010. It was answered by Anne Milton (Conservative) on Tuesday, 20 July 2010 on behalf of the Department of Health.

NHS: Local Government

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the statement of 12 July 2010, Official Report, columns 661-681, on NHS White Paper, (1) what (a) funding and (b) other resources will be provided to local authorities to assist them to agree local strategies with the NHS;

Answer: Later this year we will publish a White Paper setting out further details of the new Public Health Service (PHS) and our programme for public health. Primary care trusts responsibilities for local health improvement will transfer to local authorities, who will employ Directors of Public Health jointly appointed with the PHS. As set out in the draft Structural Reform Plan published on the Department's website, implementation of the PHS will begin in the financial year 2011-12 and it will be fully established by April 2012. In 2012-13 local ring-fenced public health budgets will be allocated in shadow form and real allocations will be issued for 2013-14.The Department will create a ring-fenced public health budget and, within this, local Directors of Public Health will be responsible for health improvement funds allocated according to relative population health need.The local ring-fenced public health budget will be based on current identifiable expenditure by the NHS and the Department. The allocation formula for those funds will include a new ““health premium”” designed to promote action to improve population-wide health and reduce health inequalities. Work is currently under way to determine baseline spending and the details of how local ring-fenced public health budgets will be determined. Further details will be made available in due course.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 9294; 514 c207-8W
Session: 2010-12
Related items: NHS White Paper
Monday, 12 July 2010
Parliamentary proceedings
House of Commons
Subjects: Health services Local government NHS
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk