§ Dr. Lynne JonesTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the role of Treasury Ministers in the approval for new hospital developments.
§ Mr. PortilloThe role of the Treasury is to advise its Ministers on the level of resources appropriate for individual departmental programmes and to satisfy itself that public funds—including funds for capital developments—are used efficiently and effectively.
In this context, Treasury Ministers reserve the right to examine any proposed capital development to ensure that it is affordable and represents value for money. I also formally approve new hospital developments, or schemes which are part of a planned programme of development, which have a total capital cost over £50 million.