Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the number of GP surgeries which will pay increased rental charges for their premises after NHS Property Services Ltd moves to market value rents; and if he will make a statement.

The Department has been reviewing the rent arrangements NHS Property Services inherited from primary care trusts in April 2013, with a view to moving towards a more rational charging policy. It is estimated around 900 general practitioner practices would pay increased rental charges for their premises if NHS Property Services moves to market value rents. Rental costs would be reimbursable in the normal way in accordance with the NHS ‘premises costs’ directions.