§ 12. Mr. Gourlayasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will state the date on which he expects the building of the second phase of the extension to Victoria Hospital to start; and if he will give an indication of the date of completion.
§ Mr. MaclayThe regional hospital board expects to place the contract in May and to start work shortly after that. The present estimated construction period is two and a half years.
§ Mr. GourlayIs the Secretary of State aware that it is more than two years since he gave an assurance that the building of the hospital would start in the autumn of 1961? Now that it will not start until May this year, will he give an assurance that his Department will take every step possible to ensure that the building is completed by the anticipated date?
§ Mr. MaclayAlthough I agree that the starting date has again slipped, I am advised that there is good prospect that the completion date will remain as stated when I was last in communication with the hon. Gentleman.