§ 1. Mr. Hoosonasked the Secretary of State for Wales how the capital funds made available to the Welsh Hospital Board have been allocated as between the 13 counties of Wales over the past five years.
§ The Minister of State, Welsh Office (Mr. David Gibson-Watt)The Welsh Hospital Board does not allocate capital funds on a county basis, and I regret that details of capital expenditure by individual counties in Wales in the past five years are not readily available.
§ Mr. HoosonIs it possible for the Minister to give figures which can give some guidance in this matter, since there is a widespread feeling in Mid-Wales that we are suffering disproportionately inasmuch as very little capital expenditure is taking place and we have a lack of suitable hospital services on that account?
§ Mr. Gibson-WattI am aware that the hon. and learned Gentleman and others believe that to be so. In a speech I made two weekends ago, I sought to dispel any such impression. If the hon. and learned Gentleman has a question to raise about particular hospitals, I shall look into the expenditure on them if he will get in touch with me.
§ Mr. Elystan MorganCould the hon. Gentleman confirm that the percentage of total capital expenditure received by the Mid-Wales group of hospitals is no less now than it was three years ago?
§ Mr. Gibson-WattI could not with certainty give the hon. Gentleman an accurate answer. I shall write to him about it, but I doubt that it is less.
§ Mr. Goronwy RobertsCould the hon. Gentleman give us figures on the basis of hospital management committee areas? That would be helpful to hon. Members.
§ Mr. Gibson-WattI shall look into that.