HC Deb 29 November 1965 vol 721 cc974-5
18. Mr. Kenneth Lewis

asked the Minister of Health whether he will give an assurance that the plans for rebuilding St. Thomas's Hospital, London, will proceed as planned and without delay.

47. Mr. Woodnutt

asked the Minister of Health why work on the building of St. Thomas's Hospital has ceased; what cost has been incurred to date; and what have been the total architects' fees on the current and earlier schemes.

Mr. K. Robinson

Stage 1 of the rebuilding of St. Thomas's Hospital (costing over £2 million) is continuing and is expected to be completed next year. I am discussing the next stage with the Board of Governors and have not yet made a decision. Architects' fees have not yet been determined.

Mr. Lewis

Is the Minister aware that there will be considerable disappointment that he is even considering the possibility of not going ahead with Stage II? Is he aware that this hospital is not only of importance to London but also of national and international importance, both in its site and in its work? May we have an assurance from him that this work will proceed, since it is the biggest rebuilding of a major London hospital since the war and we ought to complete it?

Mr. Robinson

I am aware of many of the facts which the hon. Member has given to the House. It is true that Stage II is a very large scheme indeed which will cost a very considerable sum of money, and that makes it right that it should be balanced against other priorities in the hospital building programme. The assurance which I can give to the House is that this matter will be considered as one of urgency and that a decision will be reached as soon as possible.

Mr. Pavitt

Is my right hon. Friend aware that regional hospitals feel that perhaps the teaching hospitals have had more than their fair share in the hospital programme? Will he bear that in mind when reviewing this expensive second scheme?

Mr. Robinson

I know that that view is taken by some regional hospital boards and certainly I will take it into consideration, together with all other factors.

Mr. Woodnutt

I am glad to hear that the Minister is still considering this matter because to a casual observer it looks as though work has stopped. Will he bear in mind the First Secretary's assurance that the moratorium on capital expenditure in the public sector did not apply to hospitals? As this scheme had been agreed, would not the Minister agree, in view of the large amount of expenditure which has already occurred, particularly on architects' fees, that it would be more economical to carry on than to stop?

Mr. Robinson

The House is certainly aware that hospital building projects were exempt from the capital expenditure moratorium. But I would differ from the hon. Member in his statement that this was a scheme which had been agreed. This is not so.