§ Mr. JackTo ask the Secretary or State for Health what is the value of PFI projects above which NHS trusts must seek approval to proceed from his Department. [6823]
§ Mr. MilburnThe table shows the value of Private Finance Initiative projects above which National Health Service trusts must seek approval from the NHS Executive. This value is dependent on turnover.
Total Capital Cost/Whole Life Cost1 Outline and full business case approval must be sought from the NHS Executive if NHS trust turnover is: Over £250.000 Under £30 million Over £600,000 £30 million to £80 million Over £1 million Over £80 million 1 Whole Life Cost relates to information Management & Technology projects.
§ Mr. JackTo ask the Secretary of State for Health which of his approved PFI hospital projects have(a) outline planning permission and (b) full planning permission. [8148]
§ Mr. Milburn"Approved" means thatall the parties involved in the project (officials, Ministers, consortia and financiers) have reached agreement to the point where a commercial contract has been signed, thereby ensuring that the project can proceed successfully to financial close.
Two schemes, at Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust and Norfolk and Norwich Healthcare NHS Trust, have reached this stage and both have full planning permission.
§ Mr. JackTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what is for each of the approved PFI hospital projects the amount expended to date on legal and financial advice and other consultancy fees by the relevant NHS trust. [8153]
§ Mr. MilburnInformation is now collected centrally on total expenditure on fees for external consultants involved in major Private Finance Initiative schemes. Two schemes, at Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust and Norfolk and Norwich Healthcare NHS Trust have reached agreement to proceed to financial close. The figures for the amounts expended to date by these two trusts on legal and financial fees is as follows:
- Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust—£1,990,000
- Norfolk and Norwich Healthcare NHS Trust—£2,200,000