§ Mr. ChisholmTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what conditions in relation to private finance have been attached to the granting of capital consent for building the new royal infirmary of Edinburgh;
(2) what are the general implications of the involvement of private finance in the building of the new royal infirmary of Edinburgh for (a) the public sector borrowing requirement and (b) future current expenditure;
(3) what are the implications for private beds of the involvement of private finance in the building of the new royal infirmary of Edinburgh;
(4) what are the implications for ownership of the involvement of private finance in the building of the new royal infirmary of Edinburgh.
§ Lord James Douglas-Hamilton[holding answer 1 November 1994]: Ministers are currently considering Lothian health board's proposals for acute services including the building of a new royal infirmary and an announcement will be made shortly. The Edinburgh Royal Infirmary NHS trust is currently exploring the scope for the private financing of a new hospital, should approval to this development be given. Meanwhile, no decisions on private finance has been taken.