HC Deb 13 December 1954 vol 535 cc1356-7
10. Mr. K. Robinson

asked the Minister of Health what special capital provision he expects to make during the coming year for hospital construction in the new towns.

Mr. Iain Macleod

I hope that it will be possible to make a start during the year on the preliminary stages of a new hospital for Welwyn and Hatfield which is to be financed from funds reserved centrally for major projects.

Mr. Robinson

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that this is really merely scratching the surface of the problem and that the new towns are now providing houses, shops, factories, schools and even cinemas, and that the one thing which is not being provided is a hospital service? Would not a special allocation be appropriate for the new towns and these other new communities which have to have new hospital provision?

Mr. Macleod

In general, I am against special allocations and I have made an exception only in the mental field. I take into consideration the particular needs of the regional board in which the hon. Member is concerned in making my allocations, but new hospitals represent such a vast project that they must clearly be financed centrally. Therefore, a special allocation is not appropriate.

Mr. Blenkinsop

Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that there are two new towns in the North-East which need attention?

Mr. Macleod

So I am told.

27. Mr. K. Robinson

asked the Minister of Health if he will consult the Minister of Housing and Local Government with a view to arranging that capital for new hospital construction in the new towns shall be provided by the development corporations.

Mr. Iain Macleod

Neither my right hon. Friend nor I consider it appropriate that development corporations should provide capital for this purpose any more than for other services which are the responsibility of other statutory authorities.

Mr. Robinson

But is the right hon. Gentleman aware that this House is in process of voting £100 million for the new towns, which is roughly 10 times the amount he has available for the whole capital development of the hospital services for the next 12 months? In those circumstances, does not the Minister think that this matter is at any rate worth looking at again?

Mr. Macleod

That is quite right, but the money, if voted, is not intended for that particular purpose. I think that the solution would be for me to allocate, through the regional boards, what I consider a fair proportion of the amount of money which I can obtain from my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

Mr. Blenkinsop

Is it certain that that grant of aid to the new towns necessarily excludes any health development at all? Surely that is not so?

Mr. Macleod

I should have thought that it excluded hospital development, which clearly is an Exchequer matter, but, if the hon. Member wishes, I will look at the matter again.

Mr. Collins

Is the Minister confident that in that way he will be able to provide for the hospital needs of the new towns without detriment to capital improvements in other regions?

Mr. Macleod

The new towns are a special problem within the much wider problem, and I must give special attention to them.