Written question asked by Patsy Calton (Liberal Democrat) on Wednesday, 1 December 2004, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 13 December 2004. It was answered by Lord Hutton of Furness (Labour) on Monday, 13 December 2004 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Dept of Health

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what public scrutiny takes place of the spending of primary care trusts top-sliced for private operations; what percentage of primary care trust funds in each strategic health authority area are top-sliced for private operations.

Answer: Mrs. Calton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what public scrutiny takes place of the spending of primary care trusts top-sliced for private operations; [202579] (2) what percentage of primary care trust funds in each strategic health authority area are top-sliced for private operations. [202580] Mr. Hutton: There is no top-slicing of primary care trusts' (PCTs) funds for private operations. It is the responsibility of PCTs to determine how best to use their funding based on the needs of their local populations, taking into account Government policy as well as national and local priorities. While no top-slicing takes place, PCTs' accounts are, of course, subject to annual audit.

Secondary information