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NHS Deficits

I can give my hon. Friend an assurance that we will. We keep the formula under constant review, and I will deal with some of the specific points that my right hon. Friend the Member for Rother Valley made in a moment. Our analysis shows that 82 per cent. of trusts and 69 per cent. of PCTs are forecasting an improved in-year position compared to 2005-06. As I say, deficits continue to be concentrated among a small minority of organisations. The great majority are in balance or better and continue to deliver service and quality improvements. On achieving run rate balance—that is the third of our key financial objectives for this year—I am pleased to say that a healthy majority of all NHS organisations reported a positive run rate balance in the third quarter. In fact, our analysis indicates that only a small number of organisations—some 17 of them—are not likely to achieve that objective by the end of March.