§ Mr. BurdenTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will make a statement on the future of the Rubery-Hollymoor health centre project in Birmingham; [37625]
(2) when building will start on the Rubery-Hollymoor health centre project in Birmingham; what is the scheduled date for completion; what were the projected dates in the former West Midlands regional health authority's "Moving Ahead" and "Looking Forward" documents; and, if so, how they differ; [37623]
(3) if he will list the costs to the national health service (a) incurred to date and (b) projected in the current financial year in respect of the administration and testing of the proposed Rubery-Hollymoor health centre project in Birmingham under the private finance initiative; [37624]
(4) if he will make a statement on the availability of capital to build the capital to build the proposed Rubery-Hollymoor health centre in Birmingham in the financial year (a) 1996–97 and (b) 1997–98. [37622]
§ Mr. HoramProposals for a new health centre to be built on the Rubery-Hollymoor site in the west midlands are well advanced. Although the method of financing the project has yet to be decided, building should be completed in 1997. This is two years later than expected because of a number of problems, including difficulties over the siting, but the extra time has allowed for an improved design to be developed and significant reduction in the cost to be identified.
Costs incurred by the South Birmingham Mental Health national health service trust in exploring finance options are a matter for the trust and the hon. Member may wish to contact the chairman, Mrs. A. Hingley. Should the project need to be financed publicly, arrangements are in hand for enabling work to take place in 1996–97 with full funding in 1997–98.
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