HC Deb 05 July 1960 vol 626 c213
21. Mr. G. M. Thomson

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the estimated final cost of the new hospital proposed for Dundee.

Mr. Maclay

It is not possible to estimate the final cost of this hospital until sketch plans have been prepared. These will not be available for some time yet.

Mr. Thomson

Is the Secretary of State aware that the Government's decision to build this hospital was originally announced as part of the pre-General Eleclion programme in 1955? Is he also aware that the starting date for the building of this hospital is now to be in 1963, that costs are rising and there is a waste of public money? Will not he reconsider the decision and bring forward the starting date of this hospital?

Mr. Maclay

The hon. Gentleman knows my views on this matter. It is not a question of money that has been holding this up, certainly in these latter stages. It is a question of getting the right plans properly drawn up for a hospital which will be of great importance for the future, and I agree that sometimes there is an element of the ideal being the enemy of the best.

Mr, Strachey

Is it not really a scandal that a start on this hospital has fallen back eight years and cannot the Secretary of State now give us a firm estimate of the cost and of when the hospital will be started?

Mr. Maclay

I cannot at the moment, for the reasons I have given; but I assure the right hon. Gentleman that we are anxious to get on with the building of this hospital as fast as we can.