HC Deb 24 July 1996 vol 282 cc414-5W
Mr. Wallace

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the health service projects in Scotland in respect of which unsuccessful efforts have been made to pursue funding under the private finance initiative since 1 January 1995. [38814]

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton

The following projects have actively explored PFI options in that they have openly advertised inviting proposals, and have been unsuccessful in these explorations.

  • Borders General Hospital NHS Trust (Day Case Unit)
  • Dundee Healthcare NHS Trust (Child and Family Psychiatry Unit)
  • Dundee Healthcare NHS Trust (Challenging Behaviour Unit)
  • West Glasgow Hospitals University NHS Trust (Infectious Diseases Unit)
  • Yorkhill NHS Trust (Theatres Complex)
  • West Lothian NHS Trust (Intensive Psychiatric Care Unit)
  • Southern General Hospitals NHS Trust ('Westmarc' Centre)

Mr. Wallace

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what information he has collated regarding expenditure incurred by each health board and NHS hospital trust in Scotland in unsuccessfully pursuing funding for projects through the private finance initiative since 1 January 1995; and if he will make a statement. [38815]

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton

The projects which have unsuccessfully pursued PFI options have been listed previously. Expenditure incurred during these explorations is not recorded and held centrally. However, expenditure will be minimal as each project discovered that PFI was not a viable option at an early stage, shortly after advertising the scheme. Only internal management time can be attributed to this exploration. Each scheme is now proceeding as a publicly funded project.

The NHS executive operates a capital investment panel which advises trusts on the capital investment process. All capital schemes should normally explore PFI options. However, where a PFI option is not realistic, Government guidance allows that a full exploration need not take place. Based on the evidence of precedents, experience and informal soundings, the capital investment panel is able to indicate to a trust or board that a PFI exploration is likely to be fruitless and that a full exploration is not expected.