To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made by turnaround teams in reducing debt within the NHS; what the most recent deficit position is in the NHS; and if she will make a statement. (106445)

We published the national health service finance report for the second quarter of 2006-07 on 9 November, which states that the NHS as a whole is forecasting a £94 million deficit, after the application of a £350 million contingency established by strategic health authorities.

143 NHS organisations were in turnaround at the time of the quarter 2 report. At the end of 2005-06 these 143 organisations reported a combined deficit of £l.l billion in their final accounts. At quarter 2 2006-07, these organisations were forecasting a combined year-end deficit of £835 million, a movement of around £287 million.