To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average cost of building a new district hospital in England was in the latest period for which figures are available.

An indicative cost of building a medium-sized general acute hospital is approximately £280 million (excluding VAT) which reflects the current business case approval information. The cost includes the capital construction cost for a new 418-bed hospital built on a greenfield site, together with supporting services such as operating theatres, outpatient department, accident and emergency services, catering, office accommodation, public areas, pharmacy, pathology and radiography. The cost also includes for equipment costs and professional fees incurred. It does not include the running costs to make the hospital operational, such as staffing and other facilities management services.