HC Deb 19 June 1972 vol 839 cc13-4
19. Mr. John

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what proposals his office has made for further new hospital building in the Cardiff area.

Mr. Gibson-Watt

None. Proposals for new hospital building are, in the first place, the responsibility of the Welsh Hospital Board.

Mr. John

Arising out of a recent report in the South Wales Evening Post, will the Minister categorically deny that pressure has been brought by the Welsh Office to secure the building of an additional hospital in Cardiff in the late 1970s or early 1980s? Does he agree that that would be unacceptable to valley communities who are desperately awaiting improvement in the standards of their hospitals to enable them to cope with the increasing population?

Mr. Gibson-Watt

I give that assurance. The Welsh Hospital Board is undertaking a critical review of the proposed building schemes costing less than £500,000 in the Cardiff area. As yet proposals have not come to me.

Mr. Roy Hughes

Will the Minister accept that many people in Wales will be glad to hear this. The Heath Hospital in Cardiff in recent years has taken a great chunk of expenditure. I hope that priority will be given to Newport and Monmouthshire, where the demand is so great.

Mr. Gibson-Watt

I am sure the hon. Gentleman will agree with me that the Heath is the best example of a teaching, district general hospital in Western Europe, but the problems of Monmouthshire and Newport are never left out of our thoughts.