Written question asked by Paul Burstow (Liberal Democrat) on Tuesday, 15 October 2002, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 30 October 2002. It was answered by David Lammy (Labour) on Wednesday, 30 October 2002 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Dept of Health

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what baseline his Department will use to demonstrate that organisations have secured a 1 per cent. increase in cost efficiency and 1 per cent. increase in quality equivalent to 1 per cent. of its budget, as set out in paragraph 8.4 of, Improvement, Expansion and Reform: The Next Three Years. - (Holding answer 22 October 2002).

Answer: Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what baseline his Department will use to demonstrate that organisations have secured a 1 per cent. increase in cost efficiency and 1 per cent. increase in quality equivalent of its budget, as set out in paragraph 8.4 of "Improvement, Expansion and Reform: The Next Three Years". [75714] Mr. Lammy: [holding answer 22 October 2002]: This requirement relates to the value for money public service agreement (PSA) target: Value for money in the NHS and personal social services will improve by at least 2 per cent., per annum, with annual improvements of 1 per cent., in both cost efficiency and service effectiveness. The PSA covers the three years from 2003-04, so the baseline for the target is the cost and quality of services in 2002-03.

Secondary information