Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the readiness of Phase 1 schemes within the New Hospitals Programme to proceed to construction on schedule; and whether delays in those schemes could enable earlier delivery of Phase 2 projects.

The New Hospital Programme is focused on delivering the Plan for Implementation, published in January 2025, and is prioritising delivery of Wave 1 schemes but ensuring that Wave 2 schemes are being supported as appropriate. For Kettering, this includes essential enabling works such as a new Energy Centre and site upgrades, to ensure readiness to proceed either to the timetable in the Plan for Implementation, with main construction scheduled to start between 2032 to 2034, or sooner if the opportunity arises.

We do not have plans at present to change the delivery schedule, however, as noted in the Plan for Implementation, delivery expectations may be subject to change and the programme reserves the right to adjust the delivery plan as schemes develop in the future.