§ Mr. JackTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list those approved PFI hospital projects which currently do not have 1:50 scale architects' drawings available. [7788]
§ Mr. MilburnOf the 14 major acute sector schemes selected for prioritisation as part of the first stage of the review of the Private Finance Initiative in the National Health Service, only two schemes, Dartford and Gravesham and Norfolk and Norwich have been approved. The 1:50 drawings have been produced by Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust and signed off by the trust's clinical staff. Norfolk and Norwich NHS Trust plans to develop the 1:50 scale drawings further with its private sector partner as the construction, building and engineering infrastructure of the PFI scheme progresses.
§ Mr. JackTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list for each of his approved PFI hospital scheme the amount of money given to the relevant hospital trust to bridge the affordability gap. [7775]
§ Mr. MilburnThe trusts with prioritised Private Finance Initiative schemes which have been offered funds from the support scheme are shown in the list. The trusts are still negotiating with their private sector partners to bring these projects to financial close. Therefore, the amount of support being offered to each trust is commercial in confidence. However the total cost of the support scheme is not expected to exceed £9 million a year, less than 1 per cent. of the total National Health Service capital budget.
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- Bishop Auckland Hospitals NHS Trust
- Bromley Hospitals NHS Trust
- Calderdale Healthcare NHS Trust
- Carlisle Hospitals NHS Trust
- Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust
- Hereford Hospitals NHS Trust
- North Durham Acute Hospitals NHS Trust
- Swindon and Marlborough NHS Trust
- Wellhouse NHS Trust
- Worcester Royal Infirmary NHS Trust.
§ Mr. JackTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of how NHS trusts unsuccessful in achieving priority status for their PFI hospital project will be expected to deal with costs which have so far been incurred but which would have been capitalised had its project been successful. [7813]
§ Mr. MilburnThose trusts unsuccessful in achieving priority status have been asked to cease any further action on their Private Finance Initiative projects and stand down their private sector partner if they have selected one. These schemes will be eligible for consideration by the National Health Service Executive's Capital Prioritisation Advisory Group. This Group will consider all major acute schemes on the basis of health service need and recommend schemes to go forward either as part of the next tranche of PFI schemes or for funding from available public sector capital.
All PFI professional services are charged to trusts' revenue in accordance with United Kingdom GAAP (General Accepted Accounting Practice), in particular the fundamental accounting principal of prudence which means that, due to uncertainty about the outcome of projects, expenditure such as professional fees should be charged to revenue.
§ Mr. JackTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to make available funds to bridge future affordability gaps which arise in the next round of announcements of PFI approved hospitals. [7774]
§ Mr. MilburnThere are no plans at present to extend the support scheme to further schemes.