THE HOSPITAL BUILDING PROGRAMME (Hansard, 15 July 1965)

§ LORD AUCKLAND
My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

§ THE PARLIAMENTARY UNDERSECRETARY OF STATE FOR COMMONWEALTH RELATIONS AND FOR THE COLONIES (LORD TAYLOR)
My Lords, the Hospital Building Programme in England and Wales is under review. In order that the various authorities responsible for the services should have enough time to consider and work out their plans it is not intended to announce the results of the review this year. It is hoped that they will be published during the first half of 1966.

§ LORD AUCKLAND
My Lords, I thank the noble Lord for that reply, but is he aware that it is very unsatisfactory? Is he aware that Regional Boards in many parts of the country are extremely concerned about this delay? Is he further aware of the great deal of cutting back which is going on at present in the building programme, and would he not agree that this is hardly the policy of a so-called dynamic Government?

§ LORD TAYLOR
My Lords, I would not agree with any of the statements of the noble Lord. In the first place I know of no evidence that Regional Boards are regretting having enough time to consider their plans. One of the points of this new procedure is that they should consult local health authorities and local executive councils and concert their plans. In order to do this properly, they cannot get their work done before November. I know of no evidence that Regional Hospital Boards as such are finding the time any too long.

§ LORD AUCKLAND
My Lords, can the noble Lord confirm the statement that the last plan was published in September, 1964, and would he not agree, putting it at its lowest rate, that fifteen months is a very long time before any kind of 245 subsequent plan is published, so that the general public can know what is going on regarding the hospital programme?

§ LORD TAYLOR
My Lords, this plan is made necessary because it was found that the resources available were nothing like equal to what was proposed in the original Plan. Secondly, it was desirable that geriatric and psychiatric patients should be properly dealt with and their needs weighted in the plan, and as I have already said, the other services should be co-ordinated with the plan. These are the three reasons why it has taken longer to prepare.

§ LORD HENDERSON
My Lords, will my noble friend assure the noble Lord, Lord Auckland, that the Government are not only a so-called dynamic Government—they are in fact a dynamic Government?

§ LORD NEWTON
My Lords, can the noble Lord give a rather better explanation for this further delay? My recollection is that we were told, I believe by the Minister himself, at the beginning of this year that the next edition of the plan would be published by the end of this year. What is the explanation for this still further delay?

§ LORD TAYLOR
My Lords, in fact I said it would be published in the first half of next year. I have been looking to see what my right honourable friend said in his very lengthy statement in February. I believe he indicated that it would be published at the end of this year or the beginning of next.

§ LORD NEWTON
That is what I said: at the end of this year.

§ LORD TAYLOR
In this connection their is little difference between the end of this year and the beginning of next year.

§ LORD NEWTON
Surely there is a great deal of difference between the end of this year and half way through next year; it is six months' difference.

§ LORD TAYLOR
On the contrary. I said in the course of the first half of next year.

§ LORD BLYTON
My Lords, is my noble friend aware that for thirteen years the Regional Boards were always complaining about lack of funds from the 246 Conservative Government? Is he further aware that plans of Mr. Enoch Powell, who was then Minister of Health, for future advancement in hospitalisation could never have been fulfilled in the economic circumstances with which we were left by the Tory Party?

§ LORD TAYLOR
My Lords, they could not be fulfilled in any circumstances.

§ LORD CONESFORD
My Lords, what on earth is "hospitalisation"?

§ BARONESS SUMMERSKILL
My Lords, to sum up, could my noble friend say that the present Government are now proving conclusively what we said at the time the Plan was announced by Mr. Powell, that this was nothing but "pie in the sky"?

§ LORD BOOTHBY
My Lords, before the noble Lord replies, may I ask what is the difference between the end of this year and the beginning of next year?

§ LORD TAYLOR
Presumably, my Lords, one day.