Written question asked by Bob Spink (Conservative) on Tuesday, 8 January 2002, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 22 January 2002. It was answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern (Labour) on Tuesday, 22 January 2002 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Dept of Health

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what was the level of funding for prosthetics in each of the last five financial years for which records are available; and what level is anticipated for the (a) current and (b) next financial years. - Including figures.

Answer: Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the level of funding for prosthetics in each of the last five financial years for which records are available; and what level is anticipated for the (a) current and (b) next financial years. [26588] Jacqui Smith: The level of funding on prosthetic services is not separately identified in health authority financial baseline allocations. But on 9 January 2001 we announced that funding for providing silicone cosmesis to prosthetic limb users was to be made available totalling £4 million over the next three years. The funding started in April 2001 with £0.5 million for 2001-02, £1.5 million for 2002-03 and £2 million for 2003-04. This was an addition to the baseline allocation. The local health authority will decide the level of funding an individual disablement service centre receives. We would not expect the level of funding a DSC receives next financial year to be any less than invested this financial year.

Secondary information