§ 19. Mr. Owenasked the Minister of Health whether he will increase the capital allocation for the Newcastle Regional Hospital Board in the next financial year.
§ 52. Mr. Willeyasked the Minister of Health if he will now increase the amount allocated to the Newcastle Regional Hospital Board for hospital capital projects.
§ Mr. Iain MacleodAs I informed the hon. Member for Newcastle-upon-Tyne, East (Mr. Blenkinsop) on 6th December, I am not in a position to do this for 1955–56.
§ Mr. OwenIs the Minister aware that this is a matter which really does require some special consideration, and is he prepared to review the matter?
§ Mr. MacleodI am reviewing it tomorrow morning, when I meet a deputation from the Newcastle Regional Hospital Board.
§ Mr. ChetwyndCan the right hon. Gentleman say how much the actual allocation falls short of the estimate?
§ Mr. MacleodNo, not without notice.
§ Mr. BlenkinsopIs the Minister also considering any representations made from the Newcastle teaching hospitals as well as from the Board?
§ Mr. MacleodYes, at the same time.
§ 20. Mr. Owenasked the Minister of Health what the degree of overcrowding is in the mental and mental-deficiency hospital in the Newcastle Regional Hospital Board's area; and how this compares with the average throughout the country.
§ Mr. Iain Macleod35.3 per cent. in the mental hospitals and 28.9 per cent. in the mental-deficiency hospitals of the region at the end of 1953. The comparable national averages were 15.7 per cent. and 12.4 per cent.
§ Mr. OwenWill the Minister recognise, on the basis of the figures that he has now submitted, that there is an urgent need for capital grant to enable this needful social service to be provided for the people concerned?
§ Mr. MacleodYes, I agree at once. Indeed, it is just because of that that the Newcastle Region has been given rather more than twice the allocation out of the "mental million" compared with what it would have received on an ordinary basis of population proportion. I am most conscious of the need in the Newcastle area.
§ Mr. MarquandCan the right hon. Gentleman hazard any estimate of what improvement in this percentage might be effected by the new building which is authorised?
§ Mr. MacleodThere is a great deal of building, especially for mental deficiency work, in what we can call the "pipeline" at the moment, but I do not think that one could make an estimate of the effect that would have on percentage overcrowding, because it depends, for one thing, on the rate at which patients are cured.
§ 30. Mr. Blenkinsopasked the Minister of Health the number and total value of hospital capital projects costing over £100,000 started in the years 1953–54 and 1954–55, and proposed to be started in 1955–56; and which of these projects are located in the Newcastle Regional Board area.
§ Mr. Iain MacleodIn 1953–54 four such projects were started, with an estimated total value of £1½ million. In the current year 13 have been started so far, with an estimated total value of £2.8 million. I so far know of 12 further projects, estimated to cost £2.2 million, which are likely to start between now and the end of 1955–56, but programmes for 1955–56 are not yet available and these may include other projects of this order to be started in that year. Two of the 29 projects mentioned, estimated to cost a little over £540,000, are in the Newcastle region.
§ Mr. BlenkinsopIs the Minister aware that there is a very strong feeling in the North-East Region, especially on Tyneside, that that area has been considerably neglected in the past? While I know some of the difficulties involved, may I ask if the right hon. Gentleman will do his best to ensure not only that urgently needed capital projects are proceeded with, but that there is sufficient revenue expenditure to see that they get going?
§ Mr. MacleodSo far as Newcastle is concerned, I think that what matters is not the share in any particular sector, but the total share of the capital allocation. As I have said before in this House, Newcastle's share, while it may be inadequate for the need, is, in proportion, quite high when compared with other regions in the country.
§ Dr. KingWill the Minister give special consideration to proposals for the improvement of heating in hospitals, because in the long run that will be an economy?
§ Mr. MacleodYes, I am aware of that. We have a number of schemes in connection with the amalgamation of boilers, which we are trying to get on with as soon as we can.