§ 4. Mr. David Steelasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether, in view of the decision on 5th June of the South-East Region Hospital Board to press for an earlier completion date for Huntlyburn, he will now announce what funds are to be made available to enable building to commence at the earliest possible date.
§ Mr. MonroThe current major hospital building programme still provides for the building of a new district general hospital at Huntlyburn as a two-phase project. The proposal by the South-Eastern Regional Hospital Board to build the hospital as a one-phase project, with the object of earlier completion, will be carefully studied when the more detailed information required is available from the board. It seems unlikely, however, that financial provision for the project could be made significantly earlier in the programme unless the start of another project of similar size were delayed.
§ Mr. SteelFirst, since the regional board owns the site, is there anything to stop a starting date in about 18 months' time if the financial provision is forthcoming? Secondly, if it is not forthcoming, does the hon. Gentleman accept that the board is bound to be involved in large and unnecessary expenditure on maintaining Peel Hospital and that it is in the interests of public expenditure that the sooner consent is given to the new hospital, the better?
§ Mr. MonroI agree that the sooner it is possible to start, the better, but we cannot simply pop £5 million projects in and out of programmes, particularly when it might mean postponing another project which other hon. Members might represent to me very strongly as being of prior importance. But, whatever the decision after we have looked at the board's suggestion, there may be some necessary upgrading of Peel.