Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will prevent the transfer of ownership of NHS estates until the proposals have been evaluated by the NHS Property Board as part of an STP Estate Strategy and as set out in 4.4 of the Government Response to the Naylor Review.

The evaluation of capital investment proposals is undertaken jointly by the Department, NHS England and NHS Improvement. No proposal can progress until it has received formal approval, as set out in guidance issued by NHS Improvement available at:

www.improvement.nhs.uk/resources/capital-regime-investment-and-property-business-case-approval-guidance-nhs-trusts-and-foundation-trusts/

The Government response to the Naylor review is available at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/naylor-review-government-response

It sets a clear expectation that local National Health Service leaders will collaborate to develop estates strategies that support the priorities set by sustainability and transformation partnerships (STP), and to develop robust capital business cases. Business cases are submitted by an individual NHS trust or NHS foundation trust as STPs are not legal entities. The business case approval process will provide assurance that proposals align with the STP’s clinical and estates strategy and will deliver the intended benefits.