HC Deb 04 July 2001 vol 371 cc222-3W
Mr. Cousins

To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to approve(a) the hospital regeneration project at the Royal Victoria infirmary site, Newcastle and (b) the new northern centre for cancer treatment; and what the target date for completion of each is. [2074]

Mr. Hutton

The outline business cases for the capital schemes to complete the implementation of the Newcastle strategic review have now been approved and it is hoped that the procurement process will commence in mid July 2001.

The provisional estimates for the new facilities being operational are late 2006 at the Roy al Victoria infirmary and late 2005/early 2006 at the Freeman hospital (including the new northern centre for cancer treatment). However, more precise estimates will emerge as the procurement progresses.