§ Mr. BeithTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if the review of the private finance initiative in the NHS will entail delays in the design and tender process for the Rothbury community hospital. [4239]
§ Mr. MilburnThe proposals for the redevelopment of hospital and community facilities in Rothbury are being considered in conjunction with a Private Finance Initiative scheme at Cheviot and Wansbeck NHS Trust involving the reorganisation of the trust's acute services. Under the review of PFI in the NHS all major acute hospital schemes currently testing for PFI will be prioritised. I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Slough (Fiona Mactaggart) on 10 June 1997 at columns 427‱28. In future all major acute capital projects—whether funded under the PFI or using public capital—will be prioritised in accordance with health service needs. These prioritisation exercises will not apply618W to small-scale acute schemes such as the project at Cheviot and Wansbeck NHS Trust and non-acute schemes such as that for Rothbury currently testing for PFI. Proposals for improving the procurement process under PFI for all types of schemes will be put forward in the near future.