§ 2. Mrs. Ray MichieTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many new hospitals are to be built in Scotland within the next five years.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Scotland (Mr. Michael Forsyth)The current building programme includes 34 major developments providing 4,484 new beds. Of those, two are being commissioned, 11 are under construction and 21 are being planned. By the end of 1992 our continuing programme of hospital building will have enabled a further 15 of those schemes in planning to have been completed. This represents the biggest ever capital investment programme in the history of the National Health Service in Scotland.
§ Mrs. MichieCan the Minister tell me what has happened to Oban hospital? Is he aware that people in that area have been waiting for that hospital for well nigh 30 years? Back in the 1950s and 1960s money was promised for that hospital, but it was reallocated. A former Conservative Secretary of State, now Lord Campbell of Croy, promised that money in 1972. Indeed, one of the Minister's predecessors promised that money a year before the general election. We understand that the site for the hospital has not even been bought. I should be grateful if the Minister could tell me, so that I can tell the people of Oban, when the hospital is to be built.
§ Mr. ForsythApproval was given for the new hospital at Oban in May 1986. It is now up to the Argyll and Clyde health board to progress the scheme to the next stage of planning. I should have thought that the hon. Lady would welcome the fact that we have announced our decision to build a new hospital at Campbelltown in her constituency at a cost of £4.2 million. She is right to point out the years that have gone by under successive Governments when neither of those hospitals progressed, but this Government have brought them to fruition.
§ Mr. DouglasWill the Minister with so-called responsibility for hospital building in Scotland reflect on his decision, announced today, about hospital building in Fife? The decision is tantamount to government by diktat. 283 Despite four years and more of appraisal by the Fife health board, which came down unanimously in favour of option C, the Minister has sought, by diktat, to reverse that decision. It appears that the Minister believes that he knows best. When the Minister assumed office, would it not have been better if he had sacked all the health boards of Scotland and said that his office had subsumed all responsibility for hospital building? At least that would have been honest.
§ Mr. ForsythI am extremely surprised by the hon. Gentleman's remarks. He came to see me a matter of weeks ago and asked me to make a quick decision. Now he criticises us for having taken a decision that will result in a substantial improvement in hospital facilities in his constituency and in the rest of Fife.
§ Mr. Buchanan-SmithDoes my hon. Friend accept that it does not necessarily make the best sense and use of resources for hospitals if, as in Grampian region, attempts are made to close viable and popular rural hospitals and to centralise? Will he ensure that that aspect is considered in relation to new hospital building?
§ Mr. ForsythAs I have said to my right hon. Friend on previous occasions, the proposals which Grampian health board has to consider regarding the rationalisation of maternity services will be subject to consultation. My right hon. and learned Friend and I will consider all arguments that are put forward, including those advanced by my right hon. Friend.