§ 3. Mr. Barry Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Wales when he proposes to discontinue the Welsh Mobile X-ray Service.
§ Mr. Peter ThomasI am still considering the Welsh Hospital Board's proposals to discontinue the mass miniature mobile X-ray service and I hope to announce a decision soon.
§ Mr. JonesIs the Minister aware that the total annual budget for hospitals in Wales is about £49 million, while the expenditure on mobile X-ray units is a comparative fleabite, in that they cost only £27,000 a year? Will the Minister consider the inconvenience that the closing down of the mobile X-ray service will cause to people in rural areas? Finally, will he give serious consideration to the letter that he received from 7,000 steel workers in East Flintshire?
§ Mr. Peter ThomasI shall take all those matters into consideration before reaching a decision. My predecessor circulated his views about the future of these units.