§ 11. Mr. Geraint HowellsTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received about the present state of the National Health Service in Wales.
§ Mr. GristMy right hon. Friend receives representations on a wide range of issues concerning the National Health Service.
§ Mr. HowellsIs the Minister aware that the majority of people in Wales are worried about the way in which the Government have looked after the interests of the National Health Service there over the past two or three years? Can he explain why?
§ Mr. GristBecause a lot of irresponsible people are going round stirring up people and scaring them. I hope that the hon. Gentleman is pleased that his health authority has now opened the latest hospital, at Llanelli and that he will bear witness to that. I hope that he will recognise that this year his health authority has a capital allocation that is 63 per cent. up on last year. I hope that he will agree that there has been a large increase in nurses' pay, a 25 per cent. increase in the number of consultants and a whole range of other things, including the lowering of the perinatal death rate, and increased life expectancy. I should have thought that the hon. Gentleman would go round pointing out the truth of those facts rather than the shibboleths and nonsense that so often emanate from Opposition Benches.