§ Mrs. WiseTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what is his estimate of the total amount of interest-bearing debts facing proposed self-governing hospital trusts which is now to be written off.
§ Mr. DorrellNone of the potential NHS trusts have any interest bearing debts at present. When an NHS trust is set up it will he given an originating capital debt. Part of this debt will bear interest and will have to be repaid; as will interest bearing loans which a trust takes out to finance its activities. There are no plans to write off these debts or loans.
§ Mr. BlunkettTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what restraint will apply to national health service trust hospitals to avoid pre-empting public sector borrowing requirement assumptions for national health service capital spending; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. DorrellNHS trusts' borrowing for capital spending will be constrained by the size of their external financing limits. These will be set annually for each trust taking account of its forward business plan and available resources.