HC Deb 06 March 1968 vol 760 cc432-3
32. Mr. James Hamilton

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the amount spent on hospitals in 1961, 1962 and 1963; and what was the amount spent in 1964, 1965, 1966 and 1967.

Mr. Buchan

For the financial year beginning 1st April in the years 1961–1963, £62.4 million, £67.3 million, and £74.2 million, respectively; and in the years 1964–1967, £81 million, £90 million, £100.4 million and £110.8 million, respectively. These figures include both capital and revenue expenditure; the figure for 1967–68 is an estimate.

Mr. Hamilton

I congratulate my hon. Friend on that wonderful report. Can he tell me whether the progress will be continued and when we are likely to get the new hospital in Motherwell which will mean so much to the constituents of my hon. Friend the Member for Motherwell (Mr. Lawson) and myself who have been making many representations to his Department?

Mr. Buchan

I cannot give a definite assurance about the Motherwell Hospital. I thank my hon. Friend for his congratulations on the development which has taken place. Hospital expenditure increased by 45 per cent. over the four years mentioned in the Question compared with the previous four years.

Mr. Monro

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the Western Regional Hospital Board is very disappointed at the delay in starting dates announced since devaluation? When is the new general hospital for Dumfries to be started?

Mr. Buchan

The recent statement on hospital building had nothing to do with devaluation or with any other economic statement in the House. The fact was that we had been pushing ahead very quickly. Secondly, we needed suddenly to construct an entirely new hospital, a sick children's hospital, in Glasgow. This meant that we had to push some of the building programme back. The expenditure over the year has been increased by another £6 million to £66 million.