To ask the Scottish Executive how many NHS hospital beds there were in (a) 2007-08, (b) 2008-09, (c) 2009-10 and have been in 2010-11, broken down by NHS board

Data on the average number of available staffed beds for all acute specialities since the 1985-86 financial year is shown in table 1. Data on available staffed beds by NHS board is available from the 2000-01 financial year onwards. This information is shown in table 2. Information on the 2010-11 financial year will be published on 28 June 2011. Further information on the average number of available staffed beds is routinely published on the Acute Hospital Care section of the ISD website at the following link: http://www.isdscotland.org/isd/3426.html .

Table 1: Average Number of Available Staffed Beds in Scotland for all Acute Specialties; Financial year 1985-86 to 2009-10

Source: ISD(S)1.

Table 2: Average Number of Available Staffed Beds by NHS Board for all Acute Specialties; Financial Year 2000-01 to 2009-10

Source: ISD(S)1.

Note: The Scotland total also includes beds within the Golden Jubilee National Hospital.

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what capital projects in health will be supported by the financial allocation for 2011-12, broken down by (a) NHS board and (b) amount allocated.

Nicola Sturgeon: NHS Scotland health boards have prepared draft Local Delivery Plans for 2011-12 supported by financial plans for discussion and agreement with Scottish Government. When finalised these documents will provide details of which capital projects will be taken forward in 2011-12 broken down by (a) NHS board

Financial plans include a rolling five-year programme of capital expenditure and the process for reaching agreement on each health board’s capital programme and hence individual health projects is currently underway. When finalised these documents will provide details matching capital projects being taken forward in 2011-12 with (b) amount allocated

Revised capital planning arrangements are in place from 1 April 2011 as a result of guidance issued via CEL32 (2010). The formula based allocation is now made to support routine statutory compliance and equipment replacement only, with specific funding allocated to boards/special boards to support existing legal commitments in excess of delegated limits. Formula allocations for territorial and special health boards are therefore not directly comparable with those for previous years. Project specific funding in health will be supported by either wholly public funding through capital allocations or revenue finance when carried out through the hub initiative or NPD model or through a mixture of both.

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what health projects that are (a) legally committed, (b) at final business case stage and (c) at outline business case stage will be funded under the capital allocation for 2011-12.

Nicola Sturgeon: NHS Scotland health boards prepare annual local delivery plans supported by a balanced financial plan for discussion and agreement with Scottish Government. Financial plans include a rolling five-year programme of capital expenditure. Draft Plans for 2011-12 have been received and the process for reaching agreement on each health board’s capital programme and hence individual health projects in 2011-12 is currently underway.

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what capital projects in health are (a) legally committed, (b) at final business case stage and (c) at outline business case stage.

Nicola Sturgeon: a) In relation to capital projects which are legally committed could I please refer the member to my answer to question S3W-40462 on 22 March 2011.

b) There are no capital projects with approved final business cases which are not yet legally committed.

c) There are two capital projects for which have reached an Outline Business Case stage – NHS Highland’s day surgery centre at Raigmore Hospital and NHS Lothian’s reprovision of the Royal Hospital for Sick Children.

All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.