§ 38. Mr. F. Noel-Bakerasked the Minister of Health what further provision of maternity beds has been made in Swindon; and when such beds will be available at the Princess Margaret Hospital.
§ Miss PittThe Oxford Regional Board intends to provide a maternity unit in the third stage of the new Princess Margaret Hospital and the present proposal is to have a unit of fifty-eight beds. Work is expected to start on the second stage early next year, but I am unable to say when work on the third stage will start.
§ Mr. Noel-BakerIs the Parliamentary Secretary aware that her Answer will give rise to great misgivings in my constituency? Will she refresh her memory by looking at the OFFICIAL REPORT for 29th October, where she will see that during an Adjournment debate she promised that she would look into the whole question which I had raised? I am still waiting to hear from the hon. Lady on the subject.
§ Miss PittI remember that Adjournment debate and my promise. A letter to the hon. Gentleman was in draft at the time when he put down his Parliamentary Question, and I will write to him in full. In the meantime may I say, as the hon. Gentleman himself confirmed in that debate, that twenty additional beds are available in the Royal Air Force hospital in his constituency.