Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what his planned timetable is for announcing the shortlist of the Trusts that have been selected as one of the eight new hospitals programme schemes.

We are currently reviewing the expressions of interest received from trusts, which are being assessed with analysis of existing official data approved by trust executives. This includes review and challenge from regional National Health Service leaders to provide expertise on local system priorities. A national panel will consider this evidence and analysis to provide advice to Ministers on a shortlist. We aim to announce the final decision later in the year.