To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to his reference in his Budget 2007 speech on 21 March 2007 to the £8 billion increase in the national health service budget for England in financial year 2007-08, whether this figure takes account of the private finance initiative debt owed by primary care trusts. (130030)

As stated in the budget, total NHS spending in England is expected to increase by over £8 billion in 2007-08. NHS organisations are responsible for how they spend their allocations to meet the health needs of their local populations. Where NHS organisations have invested in improved local services they must meet the costs of this investment, whether it is procured through public or private finance, from their allocated budgets.