§ 4. Mr. Dribergasked the Minister of Public Building and Works if he is aware that serious defects have already become apparent in the structure and decoration of the Military Hospital, Hong Kong, which was completed and opened only a few months ago; what was the total cost of this building and its equipment; whether the defects are to be repaired without Further charge on public funds; and why there was not adequate supervision of the contractors working on the site.
§ Mr. MellishI am not aware of any serious defects in the structure or decoration of this hospital which, excluding medical equipment and furnishing, cost £2.3 million. A number of minor defects have been rectified by the contractor at his own expense. I consider the supervision of the work and the general performance of the contractor to be adequate.
§ Mr. DribergWhile echoing the personal congratulations offered to my right hon. Friend by the hon. Member for Londonderry (Mr. Chichester-Clark), may I ask my right hon. Friend if he is aware that he has been somewhat misinformed on this matter? Is he aware that this information came to me from the senior staff of the hospital, who were showing me round the building a few weeks ago, when I was able to see for myself the serious cracks and dilapidation in the walls and woodwork?
§ Mr. MellishI appreciate that my hon. Friend visited the hospital. He is reported as saying that it is marvellous in every other respect—that is, every respect apart from these defects of paint peeling from walls and some cracked woodwork. I understand that these have been repaired and that my people on the spot are satisfied that these minor defects have been overcome.
§ 7. Mr. Dribergasked the Minister of Public Building and Works if he is aware that since the British Military Hospital in Hong Kong opened in June 1967, the machines known as autoclaves, for sterilising dressings and instruments, have been working so unsatisfactorily that this service has had to be undertaken for the Military Hospital by the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, to the inconvenience of the staffs of both hospitals; and if he will urgently request the American manufacturers of these machines either to repair or to replace them.
§ Mr. MellishI am aware of the unsatisfactory performance of these autoclaves. My officers are discussing the question with the manufacturers.
§ Mr. DribergIs my hon. Friend aware that the manufacturers are taking an extraordinarily long time to deal with this? Their representative visited the hospital in July and put the machines right. After 24 hours they went wrong again and have been wrong ever since. Is this a particularly good example of American business efficiency?
§ Mr. MellishThese American autoclaves were installed following an order from a local agent, after competitive tenders, and they were acceptable to the medical authorities. But my hon. Friend is right. They have been very unsatisfactory and we are now examining them again with the manufacturers. If these machines are not satisfactory we shall replace them with British.