HC Deb 01 May 1972 vol 836 cc16-7
18. Mr. Alan Williams

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what further consultations he plans to hold before reaching his decision on the future of the old Swansea General Hospital.

Mr. Peter Thomas

The Welsh Hospital Board has consulted local interests on its proposals for the future of geriatric services in the Swansea area, in which it was not proposed to re-open Swansea General Hospital. I have no present plans for further consultations, and I now await the Board's recommendations.

Mr. Williams

Has the Secretary of State seen the petition which I sent him recently? Does he realise the overwhelming support that exists in Swansea among all sections of the community for the partial reopening of the old Swansea General Hospital? Is he aware of the feeling that a Government who could give away £1,200 million should be able to devote a small part of that sum to improving the health services?

Mr. Thomas

The petition to which the hon. Gentleman referred has been received. The hon. Gentleman will be aware, concerning the second part of his supplementary question, of the great increase in expenditure on the health services in Wales in the last two years. The answer to the first part is that I am certainly aware of the strong local feeling on this subject. Not many months ago I saw a deputation from Swansea, and I assure the hon. Gentleman that I realise the feeling in the area.