§ 48. Mr. K. Robinsonasked the Minister of Health if he will state the estimated aggregate cost of the capital development proposals submitted to him last year by regional boards and boards of governors for inclusion in the Hospital Plan.
§ Mr. PowellFor the period to 1970–71, about 60 per cent. above that of the proposals included in the Plan.
§ Mr. RobinsonDoes not this indicate that the proposals included in the Plan represent a very substantial cut in what hospital boards and boards of governors thought was desirable for a ten-year hospital programme? Is this not the reason why may of them are very disappointed with the outcome?
§ Mr. PowellNo, Sir. I do not believe that many of them were disappointed with the outcome. All the evidence and indications are the reverse. It was clearly right, in asking hospital authorities to put forward a programme, not to seek to limit them unduly in the financial assumptions they should make. It was much better that they should put forward a programme which might have to be extended over a somewhat longer period. This is what happened here. But it was the right way to go about this operation.