§ 16. Mr. K. Robinsonasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is now able to adopt the recommendation of the Guillebaud Committee that the Ministry of Health should no longer be required to submit hospital building schemes of less than £100,000 for prior approval by the Treasury.
§ Mr. H. MacmillanThis matter is still under consideration.
§ Mr. RobinsonIs not the right hon. Gentleman aware that he has had six months in which to consider this matter, which needs only consultation with his right hon. Friend the Minister of Health? Is he further aware that this detailed control of hospital development is anathema, not only to his right hon. Friend, but also to the regional hospital boards? When can we have a decision?
§ Mr. MacmillanIt is not quite as simple a matter as the hon. Member suggests. The present limit applies not merely to hospital buildings but to all other civil and defence projects. What I have to consider, therefore, is not merely the effect upon the administration of the hospital services, but the broad effect, if I were to change this structure, over the whole field of Government capital expenditure.
§ Mr. BlenkinsopWould the right hon. Gentleman not agree that this treble check on this form of expenditure causes a great deal of frustration to the boards and to those other voluntary persons who are at present giving their services?
§ Mr. MacmillanI want the hon. Member, who understands this matter, has been in public office and has had to administer great capital expenditure, to see the problem which is involved in making a system for this expenditure completely different from the system for any other form of Government approved capital expenditure. Frankly, I hesitate to take that step.