Gareth Johnson MP raises issue of Darent Valley Hospital’s PFI Agreement in Parliament
Date: Tue 25th October 2011
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Gareth Johnson MP raises issue of Darent Valley Hospital’s PFI Agreement in Parliament
Darent Valley Hospital was built by using one of the first PFI agreements in the country. These agreements enable private companies to fund projects in the public sector for future returns for those companies. Unfortunately the terms of the PFI agreement that Darent Valley Hospital is reliant on are widely seen as being very restrictive. It allows for the private companies to receive 17% of turnover compared with the more common 15%.
Recently Gareth Johnson MP for Dartford raised the issue of Darent valley Hospital’s PFI agreement in a private meeting with the Health Secretary Andrew Lansley.
Gareth said “Private Finance Initiatives have had a negative impact on a number of hospitals including Darent Valley in Dartford. For this reason I raised Darent Valley’s situation with the Health Secretary who will review the terms of the agreement”.
Gareth also requested that the Leader of the House, Sir George Young, allows Government time to be given for reviewing these agreements which have a detrimental impact on hospitals like Darent Valley.
ENDS
To see the full response to the question Gareth raised in Parliament go to: http://www.garethjohnsonmp.co.uk/dartford-mp-working-for-you
Or http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201011/cmhansrd/cm111020/debtext/111020-0001.htm#11102034000003
Gareth Johnson (Dartford) (Con): Darent Valley hospital in my constituency labours under one of the first private finance initiative arrangements in the national health service. Could Government time be allocated to discuss how we might best help hospitals that are held back by PFI arrangements that have not exactly stood the test of time?
Sir George Young: In some cases, it has been possible to renegotiate PFI arrangements, obviously with agreement on both sides. I will draw the attention of my right hon. Friend the Health Secretary to this issue and see whether there is any role for the Department or, indeed, the Government to play in helping to reduce the burden on this trust.
For further information contact Gareth on 0207 219 7047 or at [email protected]
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