§ 26. Mr. Danceasked the Minister of Health what plans he has for providing additional hospital accommodation to serve the people of Redditch, Worcestershire, in view of the planned expansion of the town.
§ Mr. LoughlinI must ask the hon. Member to await the results of the current review of the hospital plan.
§ Mr. DanceIs the Minister aware that we have been going on like this for a very long time and that already hospital facilities in Redditch are completely antiquated? As the town grows, the position will become worse and worse. If it is a question of finance, will the Minister give an assurance to the public that he will immediately restore prescription charges?
§ Mr. LoughlinI cannot accept the last part of the question. I should like to treat the hon. Member's question sensibly. The movement of population is taken into account in arriving at conclusions for hospital building programmes. I know that this has been a long time, but I think that he will find that it has taken no longer to prepare this review than it took previously to prepare the plans of his own Administration.