§ Mr. HobanTo ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the management of the NHS Bank will be franchised to the private sector. [71873]
§ Mr. Milburn[holding answer 22 July 2002]: The future management arrangements for NHS Bank have yet to be determined.
§ Mr. HobanTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the activities of the NHS Bank since 15 May. [71886]
§ Mr. Milburn[holding answer 22 July 2002]: The NHS Bank has been established and is operating in shadow form. This year the Bank is offering grants and loans to National Health Service organisations, with a direct link to helping NHS organisations to deliver the NHS Plan.
§ Mr. HobanTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how much money has been lent by the NHS Bank since it commenced operation on 15 May. [71881]
§ Mr. Milburn[holding answer 22 July 2002]: The shadow NHS Bank has been established with an allocation of £100 million. The distribution between grants and loans has yet to be determined.
1405W
§ Mr. HobanTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what interest rate will be charged on amounts borrowed from the NHS Bank. [71879]
§ Mr. Milburn[holding answer 22 July 2002 2002]: The future basis and terms for loans from the NHS Bank have yet to be determined.
§ Mr. HobanTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how the NHS Bank will be accountable to Parliament. [71877]
§ Mr. Milburn[holding answer 22 July 2002]: The NHS Bank will be accountable to Parliament through the Secretary of State for Health.
§ Mr. HobanTo ask the Secretary of State for Health whether trusts investing surplus cash with the NHS Bank will earn interest on new deposits. [71875]
§ Mr. Milburn[holding answer 22 July 2002]: The future basis and terms for any deposits with NHS Bank have yet to be determined.
§ Mr. HobanTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what targets have been set for the NHS Bank. [71882]
§ Mr. Milburn[holding answer 22 July 2002]: The shadow NHS Bank's initial remit is to manage the £100 million allocation it has been given.
§ Mr. HobanTo ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the NHS Bank will be accountable to the Chancellor of the Exchequer through public service agreements. [71884]
§ Mr. Milburn[holding answer 22 July 2002]: No. The NHS Bank will be accountable to the Secretary of State for Health.
§ Mr. HobanTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how much cash has been deposited with the NHS Bank by trusts. [71885]
§ Mr. Milburn[holding answer 22 July 2002]: None.
§ Mr. HobanTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the expected composition of the board of the NHS Bank. [71874]
§ Mr. Milburn[holding answer 22 July 2002]: The shadow NHS Bank is being overseen by four strategic health authority chief executives and the Department's director of finance and investment.
The future arrangements are under consideration.
§ Mr. HobanTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions he has had with the Office for National Statistics on the accounting treatment of the borrowings of the NHS Bank. [71872]
§ Mr. Milburn[holding answer 22 July 2002]: None.
§ Mr. HobanTo ask the Secretary of State for Health over what period repayments of money borrowed from the NHS Bank will be made. [71880]
§ Mr. Milburn[holding answer 22 July 2002]: The future basis and terms for any loans from the NHS Bank have yet to be determined.
§ Mr. HobanTo ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the NHS Bank will have the authority to borrow from sources other than the Government. [71878]
1406W
§ Mr. Milburn[holding answer 22 July 2002]: The shadow NHS Bank does not currently have the power to borrow from non-Government sources.
The future arrangements are under consideration
§ Mr. HobanTo ask the Secretary of State for Health who will determine the criteria to be met by successful applicants for loans from the NHS Bank; and what those criteria will be. [71876]
§ Mr. Milburn[holding answer 22 July 2002]: An application to the shadow NHS Bank will only be permitted where:
- (i) the application has been validated by the relevant director of health and social care;
- (ii) the applicant can demonstrate that all other options including local support arrangements have been fully considered;
- (iii) there is commitment by the strategic health authority to deliver performance targets in 2002–03;
- (iv) the problem to be addressed is of a scale and nature that is fundamentally different from those faced by other health organisations;
- (v) there is a clear, realistic and deliverable plan for resolution of the problem that has led to the need for support;
- (vi) the relevant chief executive(s) within the health economy personally commit to and are willing to he held accountable for delivery against agreed milestones;
- (vii) there is support for the plans from the respective National Health Service trust and primary care trusts boards and a clear endorsement by clinicians; and
- (viii) the directorate of health social care and any person nominated by the shadow NHS Bank are given full open hook access to the applicant organisation(s).
§ Mr. HobanTo ask the Secretary of State for Health whether it is expected that the Government will deposit further sums at the NHS Bank. [71883]
§ Mr. Milburn[holding answer 22 July]: The disposition of overall resources for 2003–04 onwards has yet to be determined.