§ 43. Mr. Haymanasked the Minister of Health what progress is being made in the plans for the new area hospital for West Cornwall.
§ Miss PittThe South Western Regional Hospital Board was authorised last July to prepare working drawings and bills of quantities for the first stage 29 of the hospital. Owing to the size of the scheme, these will necessarily take some months more to complete.
§ Mr. HaymanWill the hon. Lady read the Answer which was given to me by her predecessor seven months ago, in which he said that considerable progress had been made with regard to working drawings and bills of quantity? Will the hon. Lady take into account the fact that sketch plans took several years to prepare, and will she ensure that the completion of the working plans and bills of quantity is hastened?
§ Miss PittMy predecessor said to the hon. Member last July that the sketch plans were approved subject to further consideration of the plans for housing resident staff, that a considerable task with regard to working drawings and bills of quantity was entailed and that details of engineering services had to be settled. The plans for the housing of resident staff have been agreed. There have been discussions about the engineering services, but the final engineering plans have not yet been submitted by the board. However, my right hon. and learned Friend is pressing the board to submit them as quickly as possible.