§ Mr. SwayneTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on Southampton Community NHS Trust's arrangements for the disposal of three sites, currently occupied by the Lymington Hospital, to a preferred bidder and PFI partner. [29360]
§ Mr. MilburnThe value of surplus or redundant estate owned by National Health Service trusts can form part of the negotiations between the trust and its preferred private sector partner in a Private Finance Initiative deal, but any such assets must be sold or disposed of at open market value. In the case of Southampton Community NHS Trust, the valuations for the three redundant sites owned by the trust will be independently assessed by the District Valuer and the full business case setting out the final arrangements for the PFI scheme will have to be approved by the NHS Executive and Her Majesty's Treasury.