§ Sir Malcolm ThorntonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate her Department has made of the construction and repair costs of bringing all hospitals in England and Wales up to her Department's target standards of safety.
§ Mr. SackvilleAccording to information held centrally, the cost at March 1991 of bringing the national health service estate up to national safety standards was £395 million. This estimate includes work on property due to be replaced within three years, property not used for patient care, property awaiting planned maintenance and property awaiting disposal which together represent about 30 per cent. of the NHS estate. Around £1.5 billion capital will be invested in NHS buildings this year.
Information relating to Wales is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.