§ 14. Mr. David Steelasked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to announce the starting date for the building of the new general hospital for the Borders on the site recently acquired for the purpose near Melrose.
§ The Under-Secretary of State for Scotland (Mr. Bruce Millan)I am unable to add to the reply given to the hon. Gentleman on 12th March.—[Vol. 779, c. 285.]
§ Mr. SteelWill the hon. Gentleman accept that there is growing concern in the Borders that if economic development goes ahead, as we hope it will, it will 590 be necessary to replace this old wood-hutted hospital with something approaching modern requirements? Will he accept that the doctors and nurses do a remarkable job in this hospital in what are really very bad sub-standard conditions?
§ Mr. MillanI do not know that I would accept the description of this as being a very bad sub-standard hospital. I do agree that this hospital ought to be replaced. We have in mind the economic development in the Borders as one of the factors to be taken into account in determining a priority for it.
Earl of DalkeithWhat capital expenditure has there been on this site so tar, and what does it represent in terms of annual interest so long as it is not built on?
§ Mr. MillanAbout £1,000 per bed has been spent on this hospital in the last twenty years. Compared with other hospitals in Scotland, it has not been badly treated from that point of view.