§ Mr. Chris SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he has taken to ensure that there is no conflict of interest between the duties of the new head of the private finance initiative and his responsibilities as a senior executive of Tarmac plc. [8431]
§ Mr. HoramThere is no possibility of a conflict of interest arising from the appointment of Mr. Robert Osborne as head of the private finance unit of the national health service executive. Approval of business cases for private finance initiative schemes is not part of Mr. Osborne's responsibilities. Nor will he have any advisory role in schemes in which Tarmac has an interest.