To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the effect of the use of international financial reporting standards on the budgets of (a) the NHS and (b) foundation trusts. (246556)

National health service organisations will be required to prepare their statutory accounts in accordance with international financial reporting standards (IFRS) for the first time for the 2009-10 financial year.

The 2009-10 operating framework requires NHS organisations to submit their final IFRS compliant financial plans for 2009-10 in March 2009. As such, the detailed financial impact of moving to IFRS is not currently available.

2008-09 NHS accounts will continue to be prepared and published under current accounting guidance.

Accounting information in respect of NHS foundation trusts is not collected by the Department, but is available from the independent regulator, Monitor.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the projected surplus or deficit for NHS trusts (a) against current accounting standards and (b) against international financial reporting standards in (i) 2008-09 and (ii) 2009-10. (246557)

National health service organisations will be required to prepare their statutory accounts in accordance with international financial reporting standards (IFRS) for the first time for the 2009-10 financial year.

2008-09 NHS accounts will be prepared under current accounting guidance. At the end of quarter 2 of 2008-09, the NHS (excluding foundation trusts) is forecasting an overall surplus of £1.73 billion.

The 2009-10 operating framework requires NHS organisations to submit their final IFRS compliant financial plans for 2009-10 in March 2009. As such projected outturns are not currently available.