Nhs Estates

Mr. Khabra
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the future of NHS Estates. [12353]

Mr. Milburn
National Health Service Estates plays a key role in helping the NHS to improve patient care through better use of the estate. The previous Government announced in December 1994 that it planned to privatise the non-core functions of NHS Estates. I have decided that the agency should retain its current status.