§ 26. Mr. BurdenTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the role of private finance in the national health service. [31720]
§ Mr. HoramThe role of the private finance initiative in the national health service is to enable NHS bodies to obtain best value for money for the taxpayer when developing capital schemes. It gives the NHS access to private capital and to the full range of private sector skills and experience in constructing facilities and providing supporting services. A private finance option has to be tested against a public sector comparator and is used if the overall package —which includes consideration of factors such as risk transfer, building maintenance and facilities management —offers better value for money.