Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate his Department has made of the cost to the public purse per (a) week and (b) month of waiting for the release of (i) design and (ii) planning funding for the rebuilding of St Mary’s Hospital in Paddington.

While the review into the New Hospital Programme is taking place, requests for funding are being considered on a case-by-case basis.

We are finalising the implications of the review for all schemes in the programme so we can be honest and upfront with everyone on when we expect the new hospitals to be delivered. My Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, will update Parliament and other stakeholders with the full outcome of the review in the coming months.