Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to assess future requirements for new hospital builds from those which have yet to receive Government support.

The Department is currently assessing applications from National Health Service trusts in England to identify the next eight schemes to form part of the national new hospital building programme. Evidence considered during this process will also inform the ongoing investment in new hospitals, subject to future funding settlements. The recent Spending Review confirmed the initial £3.7 billion for the first four years for the delivery of 40 new hospitals, £1.7 billion for upgrades and committed an additional £5.9 billion capital for diagnostics, technology and elective recovery investments.