§ 18. Mr. Prydeasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware of the increasing necessity for the provision of a general hospital in the Bonnyrigg-Dalkeith-Easthouses area of Midlothian because of the rapid expansion which is taking place in that area; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. J. N. BrowneMy right hon. Friend is afraid there is no prospect of a new general hospital being provided in the near future in this area, which is already reasonably well served by hospitals in Edinburgh.
§ Mr. PrydeWill the Minister explain the meaning of "reasonable"? Is he aware that there is no hospital to the south of Dalkeith except at Cloven Fords, many miles away, that the area is expanding fast, and that all the area between Dunbar and Linlithgow is dependent upon Edinburgh hospitals, especially the great teaching hospital of the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh? The counties of Midlothian, Fife, Clackmannan, East Lothian, West Lothian and Stirlingshire are all dependent on Edinburgh.
§ Mr. BrowneThis is a matter primarily for the regional hospital board, which has not thought it practicable to consider a hospital for this area.