HC Deb 20 June 1994 vol 245 cc12-3
28. Mr. Simon Hughes

To ask the Chairman of the Public Accounts Commission, pursuant to his oral answer of 21 February, Official Report, column 13, what progress has been made in the review of NHS trusts.

Sir Peter Hordern (Chairman of the Public Accounts Commission)

I understand that the National Audit Office expects to publish a review of Treasury management of national health service trusts in the autumn.

Mr. Hughes

That was the part of the answer that I could predict. In his reply on 18 April, the right hon. Gentleman told me that the Comptroller and Auditor General would reply to my letter about Guy's hospital "shortly". May I ask him how long is "shortly" and how soon I will get the answer?

Sir Peter Hordern

I understood that the hon. Gentleman had received a reply. If he has not, I will certainly see that he gets one and I apologise. The hon. Gentleman knows very well that the decision on the allocation of resources is a matter for the Department for Health. Once the decision has been made, it will be a matter for the Public Accounts Committee and the Comptroller and Auditor General to study the matter if they see fit to do so.