§ Sir Hugh Rossiasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the estimated cost of outstanding repair work on property owned by the National Health Service; and whether he has plans for a programme of capital investment in replacement in order to ease the revenue effects of the repair bills.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeWe do not maintain centrally a register of outstanding repair work on National Health Service property and are therefore unable to provide an up-to-date cost of outstanding work. The most recent estimate of the value of backlog maintenance was contained in the report of the enquiry team into underused and surplus property in the National Health Service—Chairman, Mr. Ceri Davies—Her Majesty's Stationery Office 1983. Its estimate was £2 billion.
We have recently asked health authorities to survey by June 1984 the condition of their property. When that review is complete, we will be able to provide a better estimate.
Our intentions about the capital programme were contained in my right hon. Friend's general announcement about public expenditure on the health and personal social services on 17 November 1983.—[Vol. 48, c. 575.]