§ Q3. Mr. Corbettasked the Prime Minister if he will pay an official visit to Hemel Hempstead.
§ The Prime MinisterI have at present no plans to do so.
§ Mr. CorbettDoes not my right hon. Friend realise what a disappointment that will be to 10,000 of my caring constituents who demonstrated their concern about the state of our hospital services to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and who wish the Prime Minister himself to see those hospital services? Is the need to maintain and develop acute services for this growing town recognised, and will it be met as quickly as possible?
§ The Prime MinisterI am sorry that I cannot fit in a visit to Hemel Hempstead at this moment, but I know of my hon. Friend's long concern about the state of hospital services in Hemel Hempstead and as he gave me an indication that he wished to raise this matter I have been into it personally since the Question was put down. There is a problem here, as my hon. Friend and, I think, his constituents realise. Whilst I cannot say to my hon. Friend that any special allocation of funds can be made to the region to provide a second hospital for Hemel Hempstead in addition to St. Albans, nevertheless, if the local area health authority will put forward some proposals 259 —and it is for the authority to put forward the proposals in the first place—the Secretary of State has undertaken to me, and I believe, will do so to the authority, that he will consider any proposals that are made within those limits.
§ Mr. TebbitAs the Prime Minister is not going to Hemel Hempstead, would he like to spend time reading Hansard for 11th October, where he will find the words which he used and which my right hon. Friend the Leader of the Opposition has just quoted to him? Before the Prime Minister does that, however, would he like to take a fiver bet with me that I am right and that he is wrong about the matter?