§ 39. Mr. Mayhewasked the Minister of Health to publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the reply given by him to the hon. Member for Brierley Hill (Mr. Simmons) containing the figures of capital and maintenance expenditure of regional hospital boards for the year, 1951–54, inclusive.
§ Mr. Iain MacleodI will have the table brought up to date by the addition of the expenditure figures for 1953–54, and then arrange for its publication in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Mr. W. T. Williams53, 54 and 55. asked the Minister of Health (1) if he is aware that, within the South-West Metropolitan Hospital Board's region, proposals to renew boiler house plant in seven hospitals have been deferred due to shortage of capital funds; and whether he will take action to ensure that these necessary works are carried out;
(2) what action he is taking to enable hospitals in the South-West Metropolitan Regional Hospital Board's area to carry out necessary general developments, especially in respect of war-damaged and out-of-date buildings, which work has had to be deferred due to shortages of moneys;
(3) what action he is taking to ensure that the South-West Metropolitan Regional Hospital Board does not have to spend moneys from non-Exchequer funds on schemes such as out-patient departments, X-ray departments, and occupational therapy facilities at mental hospitals, which ought properly to be met from Exchequer funds.
85W
§ Mr. Iain MacleodI am aware of these needs, especially for schemes for renewing boiler house plant, which the Board is doing everything possible to meet within the capital sum available to it. I am not in a position to increase the Board's allocation for 1955–56, but I see no reason why it should not spend non-Exchequer funds, if it wishes, on developments and renewals of this kind.