§ 5. Mr. Terlezkiasked the Secretary of State for Wales why work on the heating system at Rhydlafar hospital will not commence before the winter.
§ Mr. Wyn RobertsThe heating system must be fully planned and designed before tenders are invited. To avoid winter work, a start immediately after the winter months is advisable.
§ Mr. TerlezkiI am grateful to my lion. Friend for that reply, but why cannot a start be made this summer?
§ Mr. RobertsMy hon. Friend will realise that much work has to be done. It is necessary to plan the proposed new layout of the hospital, to work out the most economic heating system in terms of fuel and distribution and to plan and design the scheme in detail before going out to competitive tender. I regret that all that cannot be done before the winter begins. However, I am glad to assure my hon. Friend that all the work that can be done is proceeding, and the first matter to be attended to will be the upgrading of certain wards.
§ Mr. Ron DaviesWill the hon. Gentleman confirm that adequate financing will be available to complete the upgrading programme at Rhydlafar hospital, despite the Chancellor of the Exchequer's decision to reduce expenditure on the National Health Service?
§ Mr. RobertsMy right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has given a firm decision on the hospital, and it is our intention to carry out the necessary work there. We are considering how the cash limit adjustments described in the statement by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 7 July will be implemented in Wales. It would be fruitless to speculate on possible detailed effects.
§ Mr. Denzil DaviesI accept that we cannot be informed of the detailed effects of the Chancellor's statement, but will the Under-Secretary tell us how much cash will be taken away from the NHS in Wales?
§ Mr. RobertsThe press reports that I have read of £8 million cuts in the NHS in Wales are considerable exaggerations of the likely reductions. We are not yet able to make a statement on the subject.
§ Mr. Denzil DaviesDoes that mean that the Welsh Office did not know about the cuts before they were announced? Why does the hon. Gentleman not know the figure?
§ Mr. RobertsBecause we are working out the implications of the Chancellor's statement and we want any reductions that may have to take place to have the least possible effect on the NHS in Wales [Horn. MEMBERS: "How much?"] Health moneys in Wales are part of the block grant, which is divided by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State to cover various services.