§ 5. Mr. Terry Davisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will announce the proposed catchment area for the new hospital at Redditch; and the date when the new hospital will be started.
§ The Under-Secretary of State for Health and Social Security (Mr. Michael Alison)The new hospital is being planned to serve Redditch and Bromsgrove urban districts, most of Bromsgrove rural district about half of Alcester rural district and a small part of Droitwich rural district. Detailed planning has been commenced by the Birmingham Regional Hospital Board but it is too soon yet to say when construction will start.
§ Mr. DavisHas the Birmingham Regional Hospital Board decided on a date for starting to build this hospital? If the board has not decided on a date, will the Minister tell us when he expects it to do so? If the board has decided on a date, even tentatively, will he explain why this information cannot be given to us in the House of Commons and to the people of Redditch?
§ Mr. AlisonThe regional hospital board fixes dates tentatively some years ahead for planning purposes, but it is not the custom to publish dates more than a year in advance in case for some reason there is a slippage.