Mr. Wellsasked the Secretary of State for Social Services, since there has been less capital expenditure on hospitals in the area now covered by the South-East Thames Regional Health Authority than in any other region since 1948, if she will take steps to start a new general hospital in Maidstone and make substantial improvement to Pembury Hospital, which are the region's top priorities within the next two years.
§ Dr. OwenNeither the South-East Thames Regional Health Authority nor I can say whether it will be possible to 83W start either of these schemes within the next two years. I hope soon to notify regional health authorities of their capital allocations for 1975–76 and regions will be asked to complete strategic surveys in the light of the White Paper on Public Expenditure for future years by the autumn of this year.