Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether further hospitals listed under the New Hospital Programme may need to be deferred until after 2030 due to the potential impact of remediation works on hospitals constructed using reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete.

We announced on 25 May 2023 that the New Hospital Programme is now expected to be backed by over £20 billion of investment in hospital infrastructure. This announcement now brings more certainty at scheme level to enable them to progress with their plans. We are committed to delivering all schemes that have been announced as part of the New Hospital Programme.

Although we anticipate most schemes will be in construction by 2030, up to eight schemes are now expected to complete beyond this date, as the programme prioritises RAAC schemes due to their critical infrastructure risk.

These eight schemes are:

- St Mary's Hospital, Imperial;

- Charing Cross and Hammersmith Hospitals, Imperial;

- Queen's Medical Centre and Nottingham City Hospital;

- Royal Preston Hospital & Royal Lancaster Infirmary;

- Eastbourne District General, Conquest and Bexhill Community Hospitals;

- Hampshire Hospitals;

- Royal Berkshire Hospital; and

- North Devon District Hospital, Barnstaple.

We do not currently anticipate any further schemes being delayed post 2030. The programme has been transparent that timescales of individual schemes are subject to change in line with the developing programme.