§ 19. Mr. J. P. W. Mallalieuasked the Minister of Health why the buildings included in the initial phase of the new General Hospital at Green Lea, Lindley, Huddersfield, are not, immediately on completion, to be used to relieve the congestion in the Huddersfield Royal Infirmary.
§ 5. Mr. Wadeasked the Minister of Health when the construction of the new hospital at Lindley, Huddersfield, will be completed; when it will be in use, in whole or in part; and what is the cause of the delay.
§ Mr. BraineIn 1966; the board is considering if part can be brought into 8 use sooner; the difficulty is that of using premises on which construction work is still proceeding.
§ Mr. MallalieuWill the hon. Gentleman answer the third part of Question No. 5, which is not my Question, namely, what is the cause of the delay? Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the whole of the medical profession in Huddersfield is in favour of using these premises as soon as they are ready and that the situation in the Huddersfield Royal Infirmary is becoming desperate?
§ Mr. BraineIf when the hon. Gentleman refers to delay he refers to the delay in completing the first phase, that is due to a number of factors—reappraisal during planning, the bad weather in the winter, and so forth. While I fully accept what the hon. Gentleman says about the need to bring these new premises into use as early as possible, I understand that the board has so far been hesitant about this because, with the construction going on in the second phase, the building will not really be suitable for use. However, as I told the hon. Gentleman last week, the board is keeping this aspect under review, and I am sure that what the hon. Gentleman has said in the House will be borne very much in mind.