§ Mr. Lammy[holding answer 18 April 2002]: Inventures is currently the trading arm which is part of NHS Estates, an executive agency of the Department. The agency chief executive who as accounting officer is directly accountable to my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health.
Inventures is essentially a consultancy business employing approximately 270 staff with an annual turnover of approximately £15 million. It provides a wide variety of property services including planning, financing, procuring and managing all aspects of health care environment and estates. Its primary customers are the Department of Health and national health service trusts.