Oral Answers to Questions

Philip Dunne Excerpts

Tuesday 13th July 2021 Commons Chamber

[Robbie Moore (Keighley) (Con)]

What steps he is taking to improve the infrastructure of the NHS estate.

[Philip Dunne (Ludlow) (Con)]

What steps he is taking to improve the infrastructure of the NHS estate.

[Tom Randall (Gedling) (Con)]

What steps he is taking to improve the infrastructure of the NHS estate.

--- Later in debate ---

[Philip Dunne [V]]

The Minister will be aware that, in March 2018, Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust was allocated over £300 million to undertake a radical transformation of its acute hospitals at Shrewsbury and Telford. Since then, the trust’s management have been engaged in finalising the strategic business case, but as a consequence of changes to the Green Book and clinical standards the cost will have increased. Will the Minister commit to meet with Shropshire and Telford MPs once the business case is complete to help to ensure that the project can still be delivered?

[Edward Argar]

NHS E&I and the Department of Health and Social Care wrote to the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust on 19 November last year confirming we remain committed to supporting the scheme. This letter confirmed the allocation remains at £312 million at this time, and of course my right hon. Friend will recall that I committed to approving the request in principle for £6 million of early funding to continue to develop the scheme. It is an important scheme, we want to see it proceed and I am very happy to meet him and fellow Shropshire colleagues.