HC Deb 16 September 2003 vol 410 cc630-1W
23. James Purnell

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the hospital building programme. [129971]

Mr. Hutton

Since 2000, 39 hospitals have been opened, and a further 18 are being built. There are 54 hospitals in procurement through the private finance initiative process. This is the biggest hospital building programme in the history of the NHS, replacing old and outmoded buildings with facilities fit for the 21st Century.