Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the total cost to the public purse of legal advice for the New Hospitals Programme was in (a) 2021-22 and (b) 2020-21.

The New Hospital Programme is a national programme that is responsible for the delivery of the Government’s commitment to build 40 new hospitals. As with all Government Major Projects the national programme has engaged with contractors, including for legal advice, on necessary work packages which have brought technical skills, support, and experience on a temporary and specific basis. We continually review the number of consultants being utilised by the New Hospital Programme.

The following table outlines the total cost of legal advice for the New Hospital Programme for financial years 2021/22 and 2020/21.