§ Tim LoughtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what funds have been made available to hospital trusts in the last five years specifically for the refurbishment of hospital wards. [26496]
§ Mr. Hutton[holding answer 11 January 2002]: I apologise to the hon. Member for the delay in responding to this question. I refer the hon. Member to the reply that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State gave my hon. Friend the Member for Blackpool, North and Fleetwood (Mrs. Humble) on 5 March 2002, Official Report, column 192W.
The general policy over the last five years has been that the refurbishment of hospital wards is one of the priorities funded from the general capital that is available to national health service trusts. The private finance initiative is also being used to refurbish wards. A summary of capital investment available to the NHS Hospitals and Community Health Service (HCHS) over the last five years is:
811WDuring the last five years two budgets have been set up, both in 2001–02, to target funds specifically at ward refurbishment.
Year Budget £million 2001–;02 Refurbishment of psychiatric wards 15 2001–02 Conversion of Nightingale wards 40