ENGLISH PARTNERSHIPS

That this House notes that on 6th April 2005 the Department of Health handed English Partnerships 96 National Health Service sites to sell; notes with concern that 15 months later only three have been sold, along with part of a fourth; is astonished that it is anticipated that only four more sites will be sold this year; observes that at this rate it will take nearly 25 years to sell all the sites; registers its concern that the slow rate of sales is preventing capital receipts being obtained to invest in the NHS and is also affecting the Government's pledges that such land will play a role in providing sites for affordable social housing; questions whether English Partnerships is fit for purpose; and calls on the Government to take urgent action to ensure that the remaining 92 former NHS sites are sold without further delay.