51. Mr. J. E. B. Hillasked the Minister of Health, following his review of the hospital programme, what extra capital allocation he will make to the Eastern 613 Regional Hospital Board to enable adequate hospital services to be provided for the increased population resulting from the planned expansion of towns in the East Anglia region.
§ Mr. K. RobinsonI am not yet able to add to the answer my hon. Friend gave to the hon. Member on 29th March.
Mr. HillDoes the Minister realise that the present projection of capital allocations in the East Anglian board's region simply will not cover the known increase of population which has been planned by the Ministry of Housing and Local Government and the Department of Economic Affairs, and that it is absolutely essential that there be a substantial increase to enable standards to be maintained, let alone improved?
§ Mr. RobinsonAll regional hospital boards have been asked to submit their preliminary proposals to me by today. When I have studied them, I shall consider whether to vary the provisional distribution of resources as between regions. I shall bear in mind the point which the hon. Gentleman makes.