§ 31. Mr. Denis Howellasked the Minister of Health what decision has been taken by the Shrewsbury Hospital Management Committee regarding the selling of land for the purposes of establishing a private nursing home; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. PowellI understand that they have referred the matter to the regional hospital board.
§ Mr. HowellIs the Minister aware that I am concerned because on two occasions he has misled me and the House? In a debate on the hospital service, he said that I was inaccurate in my statement, and in a Question which I immediately put down he said that no proposal had been presented to him. Is he aware that this Committee decided on 25th May to sell hospital land for the purpose of establishing a private hospital to compete against the Health Service hospital, and now that the Minister has had leisure to repent, in his own words, will he finally apologise to the House and relent?
§ Mr. PowellThe hon. Member is still misinformed. No such decision has been taken by the hospital management committee, and both my statements to him, as well as this one. were accurate.
§ Mr. HowellIf no such decision has been taken by the hospital management committee, is the copy of the minutes which I have in my hand a complete fabrication? Will the Minister stop accusing other people of telling lies when hon. Members are trying to tell him all the time that they have information in their hands? Will he now make further inquiries and make a further statement correcting the matter?
§ Mr. PowellI have inquired into this, and my information is that no such decision has been taken. Indeed, the decision could not be taken by the hospital management committee because I am the only person who can decide to sell hospital land.
§ Mr. HowellOn a point of order. In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I beg to give notice that I will raise this matter on the Motion for the Adjournment.