§ Mr. DonohoeTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment the Scottish Office has made of the disposal of assets by Scottish NHS trusts; and if he will make a statement indicating for each health board in Scotland the asset disposals which have occurred for each NHS trust which his Department has approved, the value of the disposal in each case, the body to which the asset was sold and the utilisation made of the capital receipt in each case. [16733]
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonProperty disposals by NHS trusts are assessed as required in the context of the NHS management executive's national oversight of NHS estate management in Scotland. In 1994–95, no disposal has been specifically approved by the management executive.
§ Mr. DonohoeTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what powers of approval the Scottish Office has in relation to the disposal of assets by NHS trusts; and what involvement Scottish health boards have in this process. [16734]
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonMy right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has a reserve power to prevent the disposal of property where this would be against the interests of the NHS. This power applies only to assets valued at more than a specific threshold—currently £0.5 million—and the trust is required to notify the management executive of such planned disposals in its annual business plans.
Total Education Expenditure Authorities 1993–94 Final outturn actual £000 1994–95 Budget estimates actual £000 1994–95 Real terms at 1993–94 prices £000 Actual increase Per cent. Real terms increase Per cent. Borders 49,000 50,181 49,197 2.41 0.40 Central 129,577 129,297 126,762 -0.22 -2.17 Dumfries and Galloway 73,196 72,996 71,565 -0.27 -2.23 Fife 166,671 167,369 164,087 0.42 -1.55 Grampian 249,057 250,572 245,659 0.61 -1.36 Highland 115,612 114,646 112,398 -0.84 -2.78 Lothian 326,297 324,327 317,968 -0.60 -2.55 Strathclyde 1,078,254 1,103,418 1,081,782 2.33 0.33 Tayside 178,802 180,690 177,147 1.06 -0.93 Regions 2,366,466 2,393,496 2,346,565 1.14 -0.84 Orkney 13,438 15,148 14,851 12,73 10.51 Shetland 24,271 24,478 23,998 0.85 -1.12 Western 26,729 27,344 26,808 2.30 0.29 Islands 64,438 66,970 65,657 3.93 1.89 Total 2,430,904 2,460,466 2,412,222 1.22 -0.77 Notes:
1. The figures for 1993–94 are final outturns, and are net current expenditure figures, including loan and leasing charges.
2. The 1994–95 figures are budget estimates on the same basis.
3. The 1994–95 budget figures were converted to real terms using Her Majesty's Treasury GDP deflators dated 30 November 1994.
702WIn addition, certain types of disposal by trusts are covered by notification requirements contained in the NHS property transactions handbook issued in May 1993 by the NHS management executive. The property transactions handbook provides for the involvement of boards where they have an interest in the disposal concerned, for example if there are relevant service considerations.
§ Mr. DonohoeTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what guidance has been issued by his Department to NHS trusts and health boards in Scotland in relation to the disposal of assets by these bodies. [16735]
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonThe current guidance on NHS property disposals in Scotland is contained in the property transactions handbook, issued in May 1993 by the NHS management executive.