§ 25. Mr. WigleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent representations he has received concerning the levels of funding of the Welsh health authorities; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Peter WalkerI and other Ministers have had meetings with health authority chairmen, Gwynedd Members of Parliament and Welsh Labour Members of Parliament and with the Minister of State. We have also met a deputation of members of Gwynedd health authority. On those occasions, along with other matters, the funding of health authorities was discussed. I have also received a number of letters from various organisations and members of the public commenting on the funding of health authorities.
§ Mr. WigleyDoes the Secretary of State accept that much of the concern about the closure of small hospitals in Gwynedd and elsewhere has arisen because of the lack of capital for building new, modern community hospitals, and that were those hospitals available there would be much less feeling about some of the changes that are now being proposed? Is the right hon. Gentleman prepared to consider proposals from Gwynedd health authority for such a capital programme, to bring community hospitals into the 21st century?
§ Mr. WalkerI have to consider any proposals made by any health authority, on any topic. With regard to the capital programmes, this year district health authorities 20 received £24–5 million capital funding for their discretionary use, an increase of 14 per cent. on 1986–87. The allocation for 1988–89 will be £29.5 million, an increase of nearly 21 per cent. over 1987–88.