HC Deb 25 June 1996 vol 280 cc88-9W
Mr. Timms

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much capital spending has so far been committed in his Department for the current financial year under the private finance initiative. [34484]

Mr. Horam

The private finance initiative gives the national health service access to private capital in cases where it offers better value for money to the taxpayer than public funding. Therefore, under the PFI, capital is committed by the private sector, not by the NHS. The NHS is committed to the revenue payments for the service provided by the private sector.