Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 23 October to Question 178506 on NHS Trusts: Standards, what assessment his Department has made of the effect of below inflation increases to the NHS tariff on NHS provider deficits since 2010-11, and if he will make a statement.

NHS Improvement publish a tariff uplift as part of its role as regulator; to use as the starting basis for which prices and contracts should be negotiated in the National Health Service. The construct includes a thorough assessment of pressures e.g. pay, drugs etc. and the scale of potential off-setting efficiencies. This process ensures a fair but challenging delivery requirement for the NHS. The calculation enabled sufficient funding for the majority of organisations to end 2017-18 in surplus. As part of the Long Term Plan, the tariff mechanism is being reviewed to ensure it remains fit for purpose.