HC Deb 15 April 1957 vol 568 cc162-3W
37. Mr. Awbery

asked the Minister of Health how many farms taken over by the South-West Regional Hospital Board have now been sold; if they were offered to the authority that owned them before 1948; to whom they have been sold; and what was the amount received for each of them and their stock.

Mr. Vaughan-Morgan

Farmland has been sold at four hospitals. In two cases the land was offered to the authority that owned it before 1948 but the offers were declined. In the other two cases the former owners were a voluntary hospital and a joint board now dissolved. The land was sold by public auction to private individuals; at Ham Green Hospital for£17,577, at Moorhaven Hospital for£3,810, at Tone Vale Hospital for£4,509 and at Royal Western Counties Hospital for£3,523. At the last-named a small area was sold to Devon County Council for£464, before auction. Stock and equipment were sold at Ham Green Hospital, and£23,146 was obtained at public auction.

38. Mr. Awbery

asked the Minister of Health how many of the 40,000 acres of farmland operated by various hospitals in England and Wales have now been sold; and how many were sold to the authority which owned them prior to 1948.

Mr. Vaughan-Morgan

1,784 acres of farmland have been sold, and agreements for sale have been reached in respect of a further 1,908 acres. No land has so far been sold to former owners but agreement has been reached to sell 114 acres to the local authority that formerly owned it.