HC Deb 26 October 1995 vol 264 cc792-3W
Mrs. Beckett

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what information the NHS Executive has on the number of hospitals in each region and in total in England at 1 April; [39387]

(2) what is the Department's definition of a hospital; [39388]

(3) if he will review the decision not to collect centrally the number of hospitals in England. [39389]

Mr. Malone

I refer the right hon. Member to reply I gave her on 16 MayOfficial Report, columns 173–76. There are no plans to collect additional information centrally.

Mrs. Beckett

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many new hospitals were(a) begun and (b) completed in each year since 1974. [39391]

Mr. Sackville

The information is not available centrally in the form requested. Information is collected on reported major capital projects, and this information is shown in the table.

Capital schemes in the NHS
Calendar year Start on site Finish on site
1980 16 8
1981 34 10
1982 44 15
1983 36 38
1984 51 32
1985 47 44
1986 52 38
1987 60 51
1988 70 65
1989 73 75
1990 56 66
1991 52 81
1992 51 63
1993 20 77
1994 61 55

Notes:

1. Information was first collected for starts on site after 1 January 1980.

2. Prior to 1 January 1986 reporting was on a voluntary basis for schemes with a works cost over £2 million.

3. Returns became mandatory for schemes with a works cost over £1 million from 1 January 1986.

4. With the introduction of the Capital Investment Manual (CIM), reporting thresholds were changed to over £1 million total cost from September 1994.