Mike O'Brien (Minister of State (Health Services), Department of Health; North Warwickshire, Labour)

On the question of PCT members, the hon. Gentleman is aware that an independent appointments commission deals with such matters. Ministers do not determine who joins those committees, and the aim is that, wherever possible, people should be appointed locally. I take that view and encourage the appointments commission to ensure that people are genuinely local and have lived in the area at least for a period. That does not always happen, but that is because the commission is trying to get a balanced membership.

One party will say, "Cut this and provide increases for that"; that is always part of political debate. The key point is that as a result of the Government's changes, the hon. Gentleman's PCT is looking at larger funding increases than those for many other areas of the country. The PCT funding allocation for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly is £808.4 million for this financial year and £856.2 million for 2010-11; in 2006, it received £1,227 per head and it received £1,488 per head this financial year. Furthermore, it will receive £1,558 per head next year.

There will be a steady improvement in the PCT's finances. The NHS in Cornwall is relatively healthy. Staff there are working enormously hard and making an enormous contribution. The funding for them is increasing; they can look forward to that increase as a result of the decisions made following the review. The draft end-year accounts of the hon. Gentleman's PCT and acute trusts show surpluses of approximately £5.6 million and £2 million respectively, so there is still some latitude in the budgets. However, I appreciate that some PCTs want to put aside cash and roll it over to fund particular projects later.

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