The National Health Service (Pilot Schemes: Financial Assistance for Preparatory Work) Regulations 1998

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations consolidate, with amendments, the National Health Service (Pilot Schemes: Financial Assistance for Preparatory Work) Regulations 1997, as amended by regulation 4 of the National Health Service (Proposals for Pilot Schemes) and (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 1997 and by the National Health Service (Pilot Schemes: Financial Assistance for Preparatory Work) Amendment Regulations 1997.

These Regulations make provision for Health Authorities in England and Wales and Scottish Health Boards (referred to collectively in these Regulations as “authorities”) to give financial assistance to persons wishing to participate in a pilot scheme under the National Health Service (Primary Care) Act 1997 (“the 1997 Act”). Payments may be made in respect of work reasonably undertaken in connection with preparing proposals for a pilot scheme or, as the case may be, preparing for the provision of piloted services.

Any person who, in accordance with the provisions of section 2(2) or 3(2) of the 1997 Act, is able to enter into an agreement to provide piloted services may apply to an authority for financial assistance in respect of preparing proposals for a pilot scheme.

Any person who is named as a proposed provider of piloted services in proposals for a pilot scheme may (if those proposals have been approved by the Secretary of State) apply to an authority for financial assistance in respect of preparing for the provision of those services.

An application for either type of financial assistance must specify the purposes for which the applicant intends to use the payment and payments may be made only in respect of costs which have been incurred for those purposes by the relevant date. An authority may impose conditions designed to require a person who is given financial assistance to return all or part of any payment made, if it is subsequently discovered that costs were not in fact incurred by the relevant date or for the purposes specified in his application.

Transitional provisions (regulation 4) provide for applications for financial assistance made to an authority before 22nd June 1998 to proceed under Regulations revoked by these Regulations, as if these Regulations had not come into force.

These Regulations impose no costs on business.