§ Mr. WigleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much money he estimates will be saved in Wales by the abolition of the internal market in the NHS; and how much of this sum will be spent on building community hospitals in Wales. [27147]
§ Mr. Win GriffithsTogether with the proposed reconfiguration of NHS trusts in Wales, the abolition of the NHS internal market will create estimated savings of up to £50 million over the lifetime of the current Parliament. These savings will be reinvested in frontline patient care, including services in community hospitals where appropriate. Individual capital projects are judged on their own merits and against the framework of commissioning authorities; strategic plans. Generally, capital schemes will be developed through the Private Finance Initiative.