HC Deb 21 January 1997 vol 288 cc733-4
9. Mr. Jacques Arnold

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the development of the private finance initiative for the construction of new hospitals. [10364]

Mr. Horam

Contracts have been signed for 43 private finance initiative schemes, with a total capital value of £317 million.

Mr. Arnold

Does my hon. Friend remember that, three years ago, when the PFI policy was in its infancy and we were considering the prospects for a brand new district general hospital in Darenth park for the people of north-west Kent, the then spokesman on health for the Labour party, the hon. Member for Peckham (Ms Harman), derided the project as being on a B list and highly unlikely to take place? Will he tell the House what progress is being made with that project, and emphasise the excellent quality of the team in our local NHS trust and the very strong support for the project from the people of north-west Kent?

Mr. Horam

If, indeed, it was on a B list when the Opposition said it was, it has done pretty well since. The Darenth park scheme is progressing extremely well and making good progress. As the House knows, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State, not least among many others, has put a great deal of effort into introducing a successful product. I am glad to be able to say that he is not alone. There are many schemes throughout the country that are benefiting from PFI, where otherwise there would perhaps be no hope of having a new hospital.

Mr. Barron

Is the hon. Member for Gravesham (Mr. Arnold) aware that he has some support from the Opposition? He said in his last election manifesto that he had taken a leading role in securing the recently announced district general hospital. In fact, it has still not been agreed. We await the hon. Gentleman's next election manifesto.

The Minister referred to 43 projects under the private finance initiative. Not one of them is a new hospital. The Tories have promised PFI hospitals since 1990 but not one has been delivered. The Secretary of State has promised the Prime Minister £500 million of new PFI hospital contracts by April, yet has not delivered £1.

The Government have tried to sweeten PFI deals with tailor-made Acts, but have failed to do so. I understand that, last week, new guidelines were offered to prop up the PFI scheme by making available national health service budget building cuts.

Is not the scenario that I have outlined jeopardising the future of our NHS? When will the Government clean up the mess and start to build new hospitals instead of talking about so doing?

Mr. Horam

That was a long question. In turn, I will ask the hon. Gentleman a short question. Are the Opposition in favour of PFI or are they not? It is—

Madam Speaker

Order. The Government are here to answer questions, not to ask them.

Mr. Horam

We would like some answers, Madam Speaker.

The hon. Gentleman seems not to understand that the proposal for a Norfolk and Norwich general hospital is indeed for a hospital. It will amaze hon. Members on both sides of the House in that area to learn from him that the proposal is not for a new general hospital. In fact, we all know that it is for a new general hospital. What is the hon. Gentleman talking about?

Mr. Dunn

I remember a time when the International Monetary Fund, not the then Government, determined our health expenditure. Will my hon. Friend accept my thanks on behalf of the people of Dartford for all the help that he has given to the PFI, leading to the construction of a new district hospital with 400 beds—a state-of-the-art hospital—in my constituency, which was opposed by the Labour party throughout, by its Front-Bench spokesmen?

Mr. Horam

That is a fact. The reality is that hospital projects are going forward throughout the country and not only in west Kent. We are seeing projects going forward in Norfolk and Norwich, Durham, Worcester and Carlisle. Such projects are progressing throughout the country as a result of the PFI, with no thanks to the Opposition, who have constantly sniped and accused us of privatisation, all to no effect.