§ Mr. WilshireTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what the(a) income and (b) expenditure of the Ashford and St. Peter's hospitals was during the financial year ended on 31 March; [53912]
(2) how much money has been borrowed by the Ashford and St. Peter's hospitals NHS trust to cover overspending in each of the past three years; and what arrangements are being made to repay this money. [53913]
§ Ms Blears[holding answer 2 May 2002]: Ashford and St. Peter's hospitals national health service trust's final audited accounts for the 2001–02 financial year are still to be produced.
The trust received planned support at the beginning of the 2001–02 financial year from West Surrey health authority (HA) in the form of non-recurrent revenue support. This was given as part of an agreed performance improvement plan. No in-year brokerage has been received by the trust in the last three years. The trust has also received cash support from West Surrey HA to support its historical debt but this does not effect its break even position.
The trust is aware of its statutory duties to achieve a financial balance over a three year period and has made plans to ensure that this is achieved by the combination of land sales and the introduction of a savings action plan with North Surrey primary care trust.