To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects the successful completion of a private finance initiative project to replace Loughborough's general hospital; and if he will make a statement. [10555]

The National Health Service Executive is expecting to receive a revised full business case from Fosse Health NHS trust for the scheme to replace Loughborough's general hospital under the private finance initiative in autumn 1997. The FBC will then be considered for approval.As a "small-scale" scheme—within NHS executive regional office delegated limits of £10 million—this scheme will not be affected by the prioritisation exercises for the major acute schemes announced on 3 July.