John Reid has pledged to increase the speed of investment in healthcare with the announcement of cash allocations for NHS primary care trusts.

The health secretary told the Commons yesterday that England's 303 primary care trusts were set to see their budgets grow "faster than ever in the history of our National Health Service".

All trusts can expect a minimum of 16.8 per cent increase between 2006 and 2008.

The allocations would be "based on need and fairness", Reid said.

"I am allocating more resources to the NHS frontline than ever before," he added.

"This government believes in the National Health Service... that there should be equity of access free at the point of delivery for everyone."

Shadow health secretary Andrew Lansley accused the government of forming "spearhead NHS trusts" in Labour marginals.

"Surprise, surprise, there is an election coming," he added.

The Lib Dems welcomed the funding, but accused the health secretary of centralising control of spending.

Writing in today's Mirror, Reid says: "Everyone wants the best care quickly at the nearest hospital but today's NHS doesn't always provide this."