Oral Answers to Questions

Jesse Norman Excerpts

Tuesday 21st October 2014 Commons Chamber

[Jesse Norman (Hereford and South Herefordshire) (Con)]

5. What steps he is taking to encourage hospital trusts to manage their PFI costs more effectively.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health (Dr Daniel Poulter)]

PFI schemes have had their contracts reviewed for potential cost savings. A major data collection on the results is currently under way. In 2013, the Treasury launched a code of conduct for operational PFI contracts which contained a number of new guidelines for better working relations between the public and private sector parties.

[Jesse Norman]

Thanks to determined work with which I have been closely associated and with outside experts’ advice, Hereford hospital has managed to save several million pounds on its exorbitant PFI contract—money that is already being ploughed back into medicine and services for local people. My studies make it clear that there are hundreds of millions, if not billions, of pounds still to be saved on the PFI across other NHS hospital trusts. Will my hon. Friend press Monitor and the NHS Trust Development Authority to do everything they can to encourage hospitals to take on specialist PFI contract advisers to help them make these savings?

[Several hon. Members]

rose—