HC Deb 11 November 1997 vol 300 cc543-4W
Mr. Boswell

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress is being made to increase capital spending in the NHS through the private finance initiative. [14062]

Mr. Milburn

The prioritisation of major acute hospital Private Finance Initiative projects and the passing of the National Health Service (Private Finance) Act 1997 in July have resulted in the first two major PFI schemes at Dartford and Gravesham (£115 million) and Carlisle (£87 million) reaching financial close. The other 13 prioritised PFI projects are in the process of having timetables agreed to ensure they all reach financial close by the end of 1998.