§ Mr. Skeetasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) whether he will allocate more funds to the Bedfordshire Area Health Authority, due to its low position in the table of health authorities in receipt of Government funds, the amount of outstanding and urgent work required to be undertaken and the increased population trend in the county;
(2) whether he will allocate sufficient funds to the Bedfordshire Area Health Authority to cover the building of two new operating theatres in South Wing, Bedford;
(3) in the event of capital cuts affecting the projected transfer of gynaecology facilities from North Wing to South Wing, Bedford, whether he will consider providing funds to the authority to modernise the units in North Wing.
§ Mr. MoyleIt is for the North-West Thames Regional Health Authority to determine financial allocations to Bedfordshire Area Health Authority. Its decisions on allocations for 1977–78 cannot be taken until the outcome of consultations on the report of the Resource Allocation Working Party and the total108W amount of money to be made available to the region in future years are known. Plans for new operating theatres and associated beds at the South Wing of Bedford General Hospital are being prepared with a view subject to the availability of resources to a start, in May 1978 and completion in 1981. Consideration is also being given to interim improvements at the North Wing.