§ 24 and 25. Sir A. V. Harveyasked the Minister of Health (1) when work is expected to start on the new Macclesfield General Hospital;
§ (2) if he will make a statement on the future and use of the Congleton War Memorial Hospital.
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Health (Mr. Charles Loughlin)The future of Congleton War Memorial Hospital depends upon the provision of alternative facilities in a new district general hospital for the Macclesfield area, which is being considered in the Board's current review of their entire capital programme.
§ Sir A. V. HarveyIs the Minister aware that I object very much to his answering these two Questions together? They bear no real relationship to each other. Is he further aware that the people of Congleton are very concerned about the future of their hospital, which they paid for themselves? Can he go further than his predecessor went in this matter? With regard to my first Question, is he aware that Command 1604 stated that the general hospital at Macclesfield would be commenced in 1966–67 but that the second revision makes no mention of it? As a responsible Minister, can he say when the work will begin?
§ Mr. LoughlinIn the first place, the previous Administration were responsible for the revision to which the hon. Member referred. I am sorry if I have annoyed 12 him by answering both his Questions together, but I thought that they were to be answered together, because they are related. This is a matter for the Board, which will determine the priorities. I cannot anticipate what the result of its review is likely to be.