 The plan was to decentralize decision making and introduce competition, with the state becoming a purchaser, rather than a provider, of welfare services.The setting up of the market required the establishment of a system of Payment by Results and the formulation of a national NHS Tariff to complement the funding formula devised by the Resource Allocation Working Party.The Tariff includes a weighting system, the market forces factor, which pays providers in high-cost areas – principally in London – enhanced fees.