§ Mr. HancockTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what companies and organisations have expressed an interest in being involved in the private finance initiative for the Queen Alexandra Hospital in Portsmouth; when he expects to make a decision on which of these will be involved; and if he will make a statement; [71000]
(2) what the reasons are for the cost of the private finance initiative of Queen Alexandra Hospital, Portsmouth, being raised; and if he will make a statement. [70998]
§ Mr. HuttonThe bidding process is still under way, but I am advised by Portsmouth Hospitals National Health Service Trust that three organisations were chosen to go through to the next stage. These were: The Hospital Company, Key Health Services and Summit Healthcare I cannot, at this time, confirm when the bidding process will be completed.
The time scale for a final decision is a matter for the trust itself. The final business case has not yet been submitted because the bidding process is not complete. The cost for the private finance initiative, specified at the outline business case stage, was an estimate and would be 1091W expected to increase over the period required to complete the project, partly as a result of inflation and other outside cost pressures.