Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the announcement of the hospital building programme on 2 October 2020, if he will set out further details of how hospitals can bid for funding as one of the eight new hospital schemes.

We will build 48 hospitals by 2030.

The next phase of this programme requires active engagement with the construction market to facilitate delivery of multiple projects at scale and pace – all part of our ‘Build, Back, Better’ agenda.

The bid process for the remaining eight hospitals is currently being designed, but as these schemes will be delivered in the second half of the decade, we will shape the competition process and announce it in due course and we will continue to closely work with trusts and regions to ensure when the process does take place, the criteria for selection best meets the needs of the National Health Service.