§ 8. Mr. Andrew Dismore (Hendon) (Lab)If he will make a statement on the planned sale of land at Edgware and Colindale hospitals. [169830]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health (Miss Melanie Johnson)In accordance with local plans, Barnet primary care trust and Barnet, Enfield and Haringey mental health NHS trusts are disposing of surplus land at Colindale and Edgware hospitals. The land sales are being managed locally to ensure that the needs of the local NHS are met.
§ Mr. DismoreGiven the substantial growth in population expected in the area—45,000 extra people in Barnet over the next few years, and possibly extra people in Harrow and Brent—the real demand that has been identified for parking at Edgware and the need for affordable housing for key workers locally, particularly those in the NHS, will my hon. Friend consider reviewing the decision on those land sales? It is pretty clear that we will soon need some of that land for NHS purposes, rather than selling it off for expensive housing, which is what is likely to happen otherwise.
§ Miss JohnsonI am sure that my hon. Friend has made his representations to the local PCTs, who are responsible for commissioning and providing services. As he will know, the trusts are currently considering a land disposal at the Edgware hospital site and, as part of that, building key worker homes at the Colindale site. One of the options on the disposal of some land at Edgware is that part of the land may be retained for car parking and other facilities at Edgware community hospital. If my hon. Friend is not content with the discussions that he is having locally, I am sure that we would want to meet him and discuss his concerns in the Department.
§ Mr. SpeakerThe hon. Gentleman is keen to get in, but the question is about north London.
§ Chris GraylingMay I ask about land sales in the south-east?
§ Mr. SpeakerThat is too wide.