§ Mr, Crouchasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what instructions are issued to regional hospital boards concerning the design of hospital buildings and extensions; and whether he will consider providing unit design modules for such buildings.
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§ Mr. AlisonGuidance is issued, mainly in the form of building notes and technical memoranda. In collaboration with regional hospital boards, standard designs are being developed for the most frequently used departments.
§ Mr. Crouchasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will consider issuing instructions to regional hospital boards regarding the greater use of industrial building techniques for new hospital buildings and extensions to existing hospitals, in view of the great savings in cost, without sacrifice of quality, which these modern systems offer.
§ Mr. AlisonBoards are responsible for deciding the most appropriate type of building construction for use in any particular scheme, and among the factors they take into account are the probable length of life of the building and the capital and likely maintenance costs. I am sure that they are aware of the advantages or disadvantages of using modern building systems in particular schemes.
§ Mr. Woofasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many major hospitals building projects have been completed since 1970; how many new hospital buildings started; and how many mental or sub-normality hospitals were included in these totals.
§ Sir K. JosephDuring the period 1st April 1970 to 31st March 1973, 133 major hospital building schemes—costing £250,00 or more—were completed, including nine at mental illness and mental handicap hospitals and six units for mental illness or mental handicap at general hospitals. In the same period 215 major schemes—costing £250,000 or more—were started including nine at mental illness and mental handicap hospitals and 20 units for mental illness or mental handicap at general hospitals.