18. Mr. J. E. B. Hillasked the Minister of Health to what extent he will increase the approved annual capital building programme of the Eastern Regional Hospital Board, in order to ensure that hospital and other health services match the needs of the increased population in Ipswich and other towns in the Eastern Region which will result from the expansion plans announced by Her Majesty"s Government.
§ Mr. LoughlinThe hospital building programme is under review. I cannot say, at this stage, what variation, if any, in the distribution of resources may be made to take account of population changes.
Mr. HillThat review will undoubtedly include the factor of expansion, will it not? Bearing in mind that there is no establishment of any regional advisory board and so on because the South-East Study is being reconsidered, could the Parliamentary Secretary say what is the machinery at the moment for discussing and arguing about the necessary capital allocation in these circumstances?
§ Mr. LoughlinThe situation is that the regional hospital boards will be pro- 1196 vided with projected population changes and we shall expect them to allocate the resources in accordance with any population changes that may take place.