§ 23. Mr. Wilkinsasked the Minister of Health at what date it was possible, in view of the need at the time to make good serious war damage in Bristol, to embark upon schemes of hospital improvement in that city.
§ Mr. Walker-SmithSince the start of the National Health Service in 1948, despite other claims, funds have been 893 available for hospital improvement, including making good war damage in Bristol, as elsewhere.
§ Mr. WilkinsThat is not an answer to the Question. I asked when it was possible to make a beginning with the improvements to the hospital services following the end of the war.
§ Mr. Walker-SmithFigures before 1948 are not readily available, but in the first nine months of the period from the appointed day in July, 1948, to April, 1949, the capital expenditure of the hospital management committees in Bristol and of the united Bristol hospitals was about £100,000. It cannot be said precisely how much of that was in respect of war-damage repair, but probably only a small proportion, because although Bristol sustained fairly heavy damage, as the hon. Gentleman knows, the hospitals were relatively little affected