§ Lord Mottistoneasked Her Majesty's Government:
When the building of the Isle of Wight St. Mary's Phase III Low Energy Hospital is now expected to re-commence, and whether they are satisfied that the delays over financing the project will have saved any money, since the re-commencement will now be at least a year later than the March 1984 scheduled date and the differences in costing, being within 1½ per cent. of budget, are considerably less than the annual rate of inflation.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health and Social Security (Lord Glenarthur)It is expected that tenders will be received by January 1985 and work on main phase of the hospital will commence as soon as practicable thereafter. There have been no delays over the financing of the project. The regional health authority 637WA had to reconcile the estimated cost of the scheme with the budget established with our department. This has reduced the difference between these two figures from an unacceptably high 14 per cent. to the present difference of 1.5 per cent. Tender prices for health buildings have not increased during this time. The process has not wasted public money.