§ 25. Mr. K. Robinsonasked the Minister of Health to what extent the hospital capital programmes already announced will be affected by the Government's decision to maintain capital expenditure for the coming year at its current level.
§ 29. Mr. Chetwyndasked the Minister of Health what curtailments of capital expenditure he is making in the hospital building programme, with special reference to proposed new hospitals and extensions in the area of the Newcastle-on-Tyne Regional Board.
§ Mr. Walker-SmithIt is not expected that the hospital capital programme already announced for next year in England and Wales will be affected.
§ Mr. RobinsonIs the right hon. and learned Gentleman aware that his announcement that the hospital programme has been excluded from the Government's cuts will be welcomed by all who work in or are in any way associated with the hospital service?
§ Mr. ChetwyndHow does the right hon. and learned Gentleman account for the first phase of the allocation to the new hospital at Stockton-on-Tees being reduced by two-fifths?
§ Mr. Walker-SmithIf the hon. Gentleman has a question about a specific hospital, I should be pleased to answer it. We are here concerned with the share of the Newcastle-on-Tyne Regional Board. As I have told the House before, the Newcastle region is very favourably treated because its share of the capital allocation is greater than its proportionate share of the population.
§ Mr. ChetwyndIs the right hon. and learned Gentleman aware that my Question asks specifically for details of hospitals and extensions in the area, and that includes Stockton-on-Tees? As the region as a whole is doing so well, we must be doing very much worse, as we are suffering from this cut.
§ Mr. Walker-SmithThat would be an unwise inference to draw in the light of the information which I have, but I will discuss further with the hon. Gentleman any specific projects in which he is interested.