HC Deb 22 December 1965 vol 722 cc2089-90
34. Mr. Younger

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will now give a firm date for work to commence on new South Ayrshire Hospital in Ayr; and whether he will make a statement.

Mr. Ross

I must ask the hon. Member to await the publication of the review of the hospital building programme.

Mr. Younger

Is the Secretary of State aware that the lack of a firm date for starting work, whenever it might be, is already making it impossible to plan minor works and small improvements in the existing hospital? Now that Ayr is a development district, will he please do what he promised to do during his General Election campaign, which is to bring forward the date of commencing the new South Ayrshire Hospital?

Mr. Ross

I do not know where the hon. Gentleman gets all this information about what I promised to do and did not, but he had better get his facts right. I pointed out, of course, that it was his Government that dropped this project from the first hospital plan, and put it back for five years. I have said that we are reviewing the whole plan.

Mr. Stodart

Has the right hon. Gentleman really the effrontery to forget his criticisms and strictures on the postponement of this hospital? Has he really the face to go on with this very scratchy gramophone record now about waiting for the publication of the hospital review?

Mr. Ross

We should get the facts right. In the absence of any Conservative Ayrshire Member of Parliament raising the complaints of the people of Ayr at that time I had to do it.

Mr. Emrys Hughes

Is my right hon. Friend aware that in South Ayrshire there is considerable anxiety about the future of the Ballochmyle Hospital, and will he keep that in his mind when considering the hospital review?

Mr. Ross

Yes, Sir.