Written question asked by Chris Pond (Labour) on Friday, 1 March 2002, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 19 March 2002. It was answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern (Labour) on Tuesday, 19 March 2002 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Dept of Health

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the level of funding for arthritis treatments and medication was in each of the last five financial years for which records are available; and what level is estimated for (a) this and (b) the next financial year.

Answer: Mr. Pond: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the level of funding for arthritis treatments and medication was in each of the last five financial years for which records are available; and what level is estimated for (a) this and (b) the next financial year. [40772] Jacqui Smith: The information requested is not collected centrally as the drugs budgets of health authorities and primary care trust are not determined centrally. They receive unified allocations to cover the costs of hospital and community health services, discretionary funding for general practice staff, premises and computers and primary care prescribing. The level of funding made available for arthritis drugs is therefore a local decision. It is for health authorities in partnership with primary care groups/trusts and other local stakeholders to determine how best to use their funds.

Secondary information