§ Ms. HarmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Health which national health service hospitals or other units have submitted draft business plans and draft applications for national health service trust status.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyDraft applications have been submitted in confidence to the Department but no draft business plans have been received to date. Until Parliament approves the necessary legislation, formal applications from those units wishing to pursue trust146W status cannot be submitted. When the legislation has been passed, applications will be made available by the regions concerned to interested parties locally during the period of public consultation.
§ Ms. HarmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish all advice of his Department to any national health service hospital or other unit which has expressed an interest in self-governing status.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyWe intend to publish a compendium of guidance on national health service trusts in the autumn, which will update and bring together advice on the establishment and operation of NHS trusts which has been provided by the Department.
§ Ms. HarmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish all draft business plans and draft applications for national health service trust status.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyAll applications for NHS trust status will be publicly available documents. However, the supporting financial statements to be submitted by applicants for NHS trust status will include detailed information on their financial plans which it would not be appropriate to make publicly available.