HC Deb 25 October 1994 vol 248 cc595-6W
Mr. Worthington

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what information he has about the numbers(a) of in-patients at Health Care International in Clydebank in each week since it opened, (b) patients from overseas and (c) patients in Britain.

Mr. Stewart

Information about non-NHS patients is commercially confidential to the company. Information on NHS patients treated is not held centrally and can be obtained from individual health boards.

Mr. Worthington

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland by whom he has been represented at Health Care International's restructuring talks; and what proposals were put on his behalf.

Mr. Stewart

Officials of Locate in Scotland and Scottish Enterprise have been involved in talks, the details of which are subject to the normal conditions of commercial confidentiality.

Mr. Worthington

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he(a) was informed and (b) agreed that the Health Care International hospital in Clydebank should sell its equipment to its funding banks and lease the equipment back.

Mr. Stewart

The financing of any company's equipment is a matter for it to determine.

Mr. Worthington

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what information he received in respect of contracts won by the Health Care International hospital in Clydebank to treat overseas patients.

Mr. Stewart

This information is commercially confidential to the company.

Mr. Worthington

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions have taken place between his representatives and those of the Ministry of Defence to discuss Health Care International in Clydebank; and what was the outcome of those talks.

Mr. Stewart

My right hon. Friend's officials sought and obtained confirmation from officials in the Ministry of Defence that the Department has no interest in the hospital in the context of the re-organisation of defence medical services arising out of "Front Line First", the defence costs study. There have been no other discussions.

Year £
1990–91 65,123
1991–92 62,800
1992–93 94,385
1993–94 49,115
1994–95 (to date) 20,300
The total expenditure for agencies is as follows:

Mr. Worthington

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the date of(a) Government and (b) private sector commitment to Health Care International in Clydebank.

Mr. Stewart

Negotiations for both public and private sector support for this project were concluded in July 1991.

Mrs. Fyfe

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has accepted any proposal to turn Health Care International into an NHS trust.

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton

[holding answer 24 October 1994]: No.