My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Health (Patricia Hewitt) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement.

My department has today published the audited figures for the NHS for the financial year 2005-06. These show that the NHS recorded a deficit in 2005-06 of £547 million.

At the time of publication, the final figures for one trust, Whipps Cross Hospital NHS Trust, have not been agreed with auditors. However, London Strategic Health Authority has confirmed to me that it does not expect the final figures from this trust to materially affect the national position.

My department’s report on NHS finances at quarter 1 of 2006-07 indicates that the NHS is on track to achieve our aim of net financial balance by the end of the current financial year.

Audited figures by organisation for each strategic health authority have been placed in the Libraryand will be published today on the department'swebsite at www.dh.gov.uk/PublicationsAndStatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidanceArticle/fs/en?CONTENTID=4139550&chk=MbVP%2BG.