To ask the Scottish Executive Executive what assessment it has made of the changes to the NHS proposed by the UK Government and the impact that they might have on spending in Scotland through the application of Barnett consequentials.

The Barnett consequentials of any changes to the health budget in England will become known when the Chancellor announces the outcome of Whitehall’s Comprehensive Spending Review on 20 October 2010.

Scottish ministers have consistently maintained that these consequentials will be applied to the Health budget in Scotland and have responded to the Independent Budget Review in these terms.