§ Mr. BarronTo ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for the City of Durham(Mr. Steinberg) of 29 January,Official Report, columns 271–72, concerning NHS PFI projects, what information he has received regarding (a) the date that contracts, including financial agreements, will be signed and (b) the likely start date and time scale for construction work at each of the sites named. [20071]
§ Mr. HoramI refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Southwark and Bermondsey (Mr. Hughes) on 13 March,Official Report, column 341. Financial agreement on a private finance initiative contract is expected three or four months after the commercial contract has been signed. Shortly after financial agreement, work can begin on site.