§ Ms. PrimaroloTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if she will list for each regional health authority in England the amount needed to bring the estate to an overall condition which exhibits only minor deterioration for 1988–89, 1989–90, 1990–91 and 1991–92;
(2) if she will list for each regional health authority the amount spent on repairs and maintenance in 1988–89, 1989–90, 1990–91 and 1991–92.
§ Mr. SackvilleFor the estimate of the cost to bring the estate to a condition which exhibits only minor deterioration for 1989–90, I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my predecessor to the hon. Member for Livingston (Mr. Cook) on 12 July 1991 at columns 500–504; and for 1990–91 to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Sheffield, Brightside (Mr. Blunkett) on 17 November 1992 at column179. Information in the same form is not held centrally for 1988–89, and the figures for 1991–92 are not yet available.
Rationalisation schemes and the replacement of old and unsuitable stock with modern buildings are the principle means of reducing the backlog, and also provide better and more efficient facilities for health care. Some 670 building schemes, each costing over £1 million, have been completed since 1979, and around £1.5 billion will be invested in new buildings this year.
The amount spent on repairs and maintenance is shown in the following table; data for 1991–92 are not yet available.
Expenditure on building and engineering maintenance £000 Region 1988–89 1989–90 1990–91 Northern 30,697 31,901 33,403 Yorkshire 29,686 30,873 31,495 Trent 36,757 39,582 39,720 East Anglian 13,978 15,670 15,792 North West Thames 32,303 32,109 34,652 North East Thames 39,603 41,274 40,896 South East Thames 35,208 34,601 35,538 South West Thames 30,014 31,585 31,076 Wessex 21,062 20,879 21,502 Oxford 18,020 18,856 20,725 South Western 25,370 25,780 26,555 West Midlands 47,564 51,823 50,602 Mersey 21,754 23,010 23,437 North Western 34,298 32,745 37,389 SHAs 7,773 8,719 9,015 Total 424,087 439,407 451,797 Source: Annual accounts of regional and district health authorities in England and those of the special health authorities (SHAs) for the London postgraduate teaching hospitals.
Notes:
1. The figures included for engineering maintenance are limited to expenditure incurred on the maintenance of general engineering services and plant. Total expenditure incurred on the maintenance of medical and surgical, X-ray and laboratory equipment or incurred within specific departments such as laundries, boilerhouses, etc is not fully identifiable in health authority accounts.
2. Information for 1991–92—derivable from financial returns rather than annual accounts—is not yet available.