§ 56. Mr. Emrys Hughesasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware of the lack of accommodation for patients from south Ayrshire at the County Hospital at Ayr; that a site for the extension of the hospital at Heathfield is available ; that there has been delay by the Regional Board in coming to a decision in the matter ; and what steps he is taking to expedite the building of the proposed new extension.
§ Mr. J. StuartThe hon. Member will be glad to learn that the Regional Hospital Board plan to start the construction of a new out-patient department at Heathfield Hospital during the year 1957–58—has been approved, I must mean. [Laughter.] I expect that the negotiations about the amount of ground to be acquired, which have not delayed the project, will be concluded very shortly.
§ Mr. HughesCan the Secretary of State say when he approved these plans?
§ Mr. StuartWhen I approved them?
§ Mr. HughesYes—when?
§ Mr. StuartWell, I must have done so. The short answer, Sir, is recently.