To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether baseline funding for primary care trusts will include an allocation for disabled children's services including (a) short respite breaks, (b) wheelchairs, (c) community equipment and (d) palliative care.

The Department currently makes revenue allocations direct to primary care trusts (PCTs) on the basis of a national weighted capitation formula which is used to determine each PCT's target share of available resources. The components of the formula are used to weight each PCTs population according to their relative need (age and additional need) for healthcare and the unavoidable geographical differences in the cost of providing healthcare (the market forces factor).

PCT revenue allocations are not broken down by policy or service area. Once allocated, it is for PCTs to commission the services they require to meet the healthcare needs of their local populations, taking account of both local and national priorities.

Further details about PCT revenue allocations post 2010-11 will be announced in December 2010.