§ Mr. Nigel EvansTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many children's hospices are funded by Government funds for(a) revenue costs and (b) capital projects.
§ Mr. YeoThe Department is giving direct assistance to voluntary organisations, in one case contributing to the running costs of an existing children's hospice and, in another, to the cost of planning a new hospice soon to be constructed. Support for this new development is from a £5 million programme of pilot projects which we are funding to identify good practice in the care of children with life-threatening illnesses. We are not providing any help with capital costs. Health authorities may purchase services for children with life-threatening illness from statutory and voluntary sector bodies, but no details of these are held centrally.