To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions the NHS management executive has had with the Guy's NHS trust on its future financial viability.

Current discussions with the Guy's and Lewisham national health service trust have focused on the financial strategy contained in its business plan. As is well known, the trust faces some financial problems in the current year, but these do not undermine its financial viability and are being effectively dealt with by its management.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information the NHS management executive has received from Guy's hospital on its plan to replace its director of finance.

Appointments, such as the director of finance, are a matter for trust boards and the national health service management executive would not normally expect to be involved in new appointments or replacements. In this case, the NHSME was informed of the change that the trust board had decided to make.