HC Deb 22 February 1996 vol 272 c272W
Mr. Garrett

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what sums have been made available to the Norfolk and Norwich Health Care NHS trust for expenditure on traffic and transport consultants in connection with a new hospital at Colney in South Norfolk district; and what representations he has received on the compliance of the proposals with planning policy guidance 13. [15960]

Mr. Horam

This is a local matter. The provision of local services is a matter for local managers. The hon. Member may wish to contact Sir Stuart Burgess, chairman of Anglia and Oxford regional health authority, for details.

Planning permission for any hospital development has to be obtained from the local planning authority, which must take account of the contents of planning policy guidance notes. The planning application is a matter between the local planning authority and the trust.

Mr. Garrett

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS staff are employed by the Norfolk and Norwich Health Care NHS trust at(a) the Norfolk and Norwich hospital and (b) West Norwich hospital; and what estimate he has made of the number of staff to be employed at Colney hospital after the closure of the Norfolk and Norwich and West Norwich hospitals. [15691]

Mr. Horam

Information on staffing levels at individual hospitals is not available centrally. The hon. Member may wish to contact Mr. Malcolm Falcon CBE, chairman of Norfolk and Norwich Health Care national health service trust, for details.

Norfolk and Norwich Health Care NHS trust submitted its formal business case for building a new hospital at the end of January. Given the size of the proposed project, the business case will be considered by officials at both the NHS executive and HM Treasury before it is passed to Ministers for final approval. I cannot comment further until all aspects of the business case have been fully considered.