§ Mr. GoodmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what sums the NHS has paid to private health providers in each year since 2003; and how much has been paid this year. [158082]
§ Mr. HuttonThe Department does not hold centrally information on the amount the National Health Service has paid to private health providers in each year since 2003. The exception is the independent sector treatment centre programme. The centre at Daventry opened in October 2003 and we estimate that, by the end of March 2004, the amount paid to the provider will be £1.1 million. The national mobile cataract treatment centre opened in February 2004 and we estimate that, by the end of March 2004, the amount paid will be £2 million.