Written question asked by Lord Barnett (Labour), in the House of Lords. It was answered by Lord Sassoon (Conservative) on Tuesday, 16 November 2010.

Spending Review 2010

Question: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the statement by Lord Sassoon on 20 October (Official Report, col. 831), whether the proposed £20 billion a year savings to be achieved by 2014 by ““demanding better value for money”” have been included in the total cuts in the deficit given in Spending Review 2010.

Answer: The Government have set out their plans to increase total health spending by 0.1 per cent above inflation in each year of the spending review. But the NHS will still need to drive reform and make savings by reducing waste and inefficiency. The Government aim to find up to £20 billion a year of efficiency savings by 2014-15, which will be reinvested in the NHS to help fund services. These savings do not therefore contribute directly to the £81 billion of spending reductions set out in the spending review. But within an overall health budget that increases in real terms in each year of the spending review, these savings will enable the NHS to focus more resources on front-line services.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 3282; 722 c200WA
Session: 2010-12
Related items: Comprehensive Spending Review
Wednesday, 20 October 2010
Parliamentary proceedings
House of Lords; Spending Review 2010
Wednesday, 1 December 2010
Written questions
House of Lords; Spending Review 2010
Wednesday, 1 December 2010
Written questions
House of Lords
Subjects: Cost effectiveness NHS Public expenditure Cuts
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk