HC Deb 26 March 1986 vol 94 cc936-7
5. Mr. Steel

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many hospitals have been closed in Scotland since 1979.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Scotland (Mr. John MacKay)

Since 1979, 27 hospitals have been closed, involving 1,205 beds. In the same period, over 4,200 new and replacement beds were brought into use as part of projects funded from the national building programme.

Mr. Steel

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that, during the Easter recess I shall receive a petition signed by 8,000 of my constituents from Galashiels and Selkirk protesting against the proposed closure of two cottage hospitals there? Does he accept that there is widespread resentment about the fact that the Government, having built the new hospital in the Borders—we welcome that—are not giving it enough revenue to enable it to be used for the purpose for which it was designed with fully operative geriatric facilities? Instead, GP beds from the cottage hospitals are being decanted into that facility.

Mr. MacKay

The right hon. Gentleman should remind himself of the petitions and campaign in the Borders in the 1960s and 1970s aimed at replacing the old hospitals with the new £30 million hospital built at Huntlyburn. It was made perfectly clear in May 1974, in the letter conveying the approval in principle to the Borders health board, that the hospitals to be closed when the new hospital was available were Peel, Galashiels, Sanderson, Knowepark and Selkirk and the general practitioner maternity beds in the Borders. If the right hon. Gentleman wishes to renege, neither I nor the health board wish to join him.

Mr. Bill Walker

Does my hon. Friend agree that during the period in which these 27 hospitals have been closed the Government spent substantial sums on capital projects? Will he confirm that that expenditure greatly exceeded the expenditure during the Lib-Lab pact?

Mr. MacKay

My hon. Friend is right. The 4,200 beds represent some 42 major new hospital developments completed since 1979. Many other new hospital projects are under construction throughout Scotland.

Mr. Ron Brown

Will the hon. Gentleman ensure, failing the modernisation of the existing Leith hospital, that any replacement building is erected before the present hospital is demolished?

Mr. MacKay

The provision of maternity services in Edinburgh, and the provision of geriatric services, including the future of Leith hospital, are being considered by the Lothian health board. Following consultation, the health board will submit its conclusions to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for a decision. Until we get the health board's proposals, it would be wrong of me to pre-judge the position.