§ Mr. PortilloTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what the estimated cost of the Paddington site development was on 1 January 2002; what his latest estimate of the cost of the development is; and if he will investigate alternative options for meeting tertiary health demand in West London. [145097]
§ Mr. HuttonThe estimated capital cost of the preferred option in the outline business case (OBC) which was approved in October 2000—the Paddington Basin scheme—was £360 million. The estimated cost of this option is currently £800 million.
This initial OBC is currently being reviewed. This review will determine if the financial assumptions underpinning the OBC are still robust.