§ 2. Miss Burtonasked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the additional bed capacity together with the additional staff complement resulting from the completion of Item 4 in the rebuilding at Stoney Stanton Road Hospital could be carried for a limited period by the present kitchens, and if he will give a higher priority for completion date to Item 4 so that it may be ready for use at least six months before the kitchen block.
§ The Minister of Health (Mr. Iain Macleod)I have no reason to suppose that work on the kitchen block is likely to delay progress with the additional wards.
§ Miss BurtonIs the Minister aware that I very much appreciate the trouble he took in getting an opinion on this matter? Is he also aware, however, that the medical staff who have to work in this hospital have told me definitely that the present kitchens could carry this additional load for six months? Will he look into that point again?
§ Mr. MacleodI have looked into that matter, but even if I could switch labour and materials, the delay in completing the new kitchens would, in my view extend too far into the period during which the existing kitchens would have to cope with the additional load.
§ 4. Miss Burtonasked the Minister of Health whether, as plans were approved on 20th October last, he is now in a position to give details of the progress made on Item 2, kitchen, dining and clinical service block, in the phase three rebuilding at Stoney Stanton Road Hospital, in Coventry.
§ Mr. Iain MacleodI am informed that the contract has been let and that the first site meeting has been held but delay in steel deliveries is likely to prevent the starting of the work for some months yet.
§ Miss BurtonMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman—although this is probably rather a difficult question for him to answer—whether he feels that the regional hospital board has acted with the celerity which one would have expected of it? We have been concerned with this matter for a long time, and now we are told that there is to be a further month's delay.
§ Mr. MacleodThis delay, which is entirely a matter of steel, has nothing to do with the regional hospital board. I have not been satisfied wholly with the progress of this work, wherever the responsibility may lie, and I am grateful to the hon. Lady for helping to expedite the matter.
§ 35. Miss Burtonasked the Minister of Health when he expects to receive an answer from the Birmingham Regional Hospital Board concerning Item 4 in the phase three rebuilding at Stoney Stanton Road Hospital, Coventry; and if he will make a detailed statement as to his criticisms of the plans submitted by the Board for this particular item.
§ Mr. Iain MacleodThe Board's answer reached my Department on 16th December. I am sending the hon. Member an extract from a letter to the Board giving my criticisms of the plans.
§ Miss BurtonIs the Minister aware how helpful was the tabular answer that he inserted in the OFFICIAL REPORT On 25th April? Would he feel able now to 1629 put in a similar answer giving the same details for all the seven contracts involved in this matter, so that we can see what progress is being made?
§ Mr. MacleodCertainly. If the hon. Lady puts down a Written Question, I will give that information.