§ Mr. Colin ShepherdTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he plans to review the capital works programme for hospital building within the National Health Service.
§ Mr. FreemanI am content to leave the review of the programme to the health authorities responsible for its management in the knowledge that our increased capital allocations will permit investment in the modernisation of the National Health Service to be sustained at record levels. Capital expenditure on the hospital and community health services in 1989–90 is planned to reach £1.2 billion, an increase in real terms of 41 per cent. over the 1978–79 level.