§ Mr. Ernie RossTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his estimate of the total cost of the work requiring to be carried out on National Health Service properties identified by the National Audit Office report of 28 March, HC 405.
§ Mrs. CurrieThe notional cost of bringing all National Health Service properties in England up to an adequate condition is estimated to be of the order of £1.8 billion. It would be wasteful to devote resources to bring every property to an adequate condition, since some are empty and awaiting disposal and some are planned for replacement. In England the NHS target is to have 70 per cent. of properties in an adequate condition and at present 68 per cent. are considered to be so.