To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to ensure that hospitals are used to near capacity before new hospitals are built; and if he will make a statement.

In planning strategic change within a health economy, including the development of new capacity, commissioners are expected to look at current available capacity, projected need, the condition and adaptability of existing estates and safe and efficient levels of usage including bed occupancy. These are complex matters with many variables and are planned at local with appropriate public consultation.

All organisations are expected to develop business cases to inform their investment decisions that follows HM Treasury’s best practice guidance to develop their cases. NHS England and NHS Improvement provides guidance on the capital regime for National Health Service trusts and foundation trusts, including the principles and processes for capital investment and property transactions. This guidance can be found at the following link:

https://improvement.nhs.uk/resources/capital-regime-investment-and-property-business-case-approval-guidance-nhs-trusts-and-foundation-trusts/