Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the minutes of the Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospital Trust’s Board Meeting which took place on 3 May 2018, what (a) checks and (b) approval processes his Department is undertaking on the preferred contractor of the new Midland Metropolitan hospital; which (i) Government departments and (ii) other stakeholders have been consulted on those checks and approval processes; and what the timetable is for the preferred contractor to be announced.

A preferred contractor to complete the build has yet to be secured.

HM Treasury is engaging with DHSC and the IPA to ensure the hospital is completed as quickly as is possible. Any new arrangement will of course be subject to the approval of a business case which will include a value for money review.