HC Deb 28 March 1955 vol 539 cc29-30
57. Mr. Fenner Brockway

asked the Minister of Health if he will now state when the proposed new hospital for the district of Slough will be built; and how many beds it will contain.

Miss Hornsby-Smith

My right hon. Friend cannot yet add to what he said about this in the statement he made on 9th February.

Mr. Brockway

As we have to cater not merely for present needs but for the large populations coming to the new L.C.C. estates at Slough, will the hon. Lady urge her right hon. Friend to speed up the provision of this hospital? Can she confirm that it is now third in the list in the regional area?

Miss Hornsby-Smith

No, Sir, I cannot. The priorities within any region are decided by the regional hospital board. There are several schemes of high priority in the area, of which this hospital is one, but it would be wrong for my right hon. Friend to anticipate the decisions of the regional hospital board. It is for the board to decide the one, two and three of their priorities. Until it does so, I am afraid that I cannot give the hon. Gentleman the exact figure he requires.

Mr. Remnant

Will my hon. Friend keep particularly in mind the fact that a decision cannot be made on hospital needs and their satisfaction in other areas until a decision is made in this case?

Miss Hornsby-Smith

I quite accept the desire of all hon. Members to see priorities applied to the needs of their own constituencies, but the regional hospital board is charged with the responsibility for laying down the one, two and three of its priorities. It is only fairly recently that my right hon. Friend announced this increased capital allocation, and it is only fair to give the regional boards an opportunity to meet and make their decisions as to their programmes. It would be wrong for us to anticipate those decisions.