HC Deb 17 December 1957 vol 580 cc51-2W
Lord Balniel

asked the Minister of Health whether he will make a statement about the progress that is being made with the site works and road works of the Welwyn Garden City/Hatfield Hospital.

Mr. Walker-Smith

The Regional Hospital Board expects these to be completed early in the New Year.

Lord Balniel

asked the Minister of Health whether he will give an assurance that the building of the Welwyn Garden City/Hatfield Hospital will proceed as planned in the capital works programme of the North West Metropolitan Regional Hospital Board, and will not be deferred because of the overall financial position.

— At 30th September, 1956 At 31st March, 1957
Whole-time Part-time Whole-time Part-time
Mental hospitals … … … 20,358 6,937 21,210 7,164
Mental deficiency hospitals … … … 7,052 2,540 7,082 2,571
Total … … … 27,410 9,477 28,292 9,735

I regret that figures for 31st December, 1956, and 30th June, 1957, are not available: those for 30th September, 1957, will become available later.

Mr. Walker-Smith

That is certainly our intention.

Lord Balniel

asked the Minister of Health the estimated expenditure which will be incurred in the building of the Welwyn Garden City/Hatfield Hospital during the current financial year and during the financial years 1958–59, 1959–60, and 1960–61.

Mr. Walker-Smith

About £100,000 this year and £120,000 next. I have not yet received the Regional Hospital Board's estimates for later years but expenditure can be expected to approach £400,000 in 1959–60 and to exceed that figure in 1960–61.

Lord Balniel

asked the Minister of Health how many finalised architectural drawings for the building of the Welwyn Garden City/Hatfield Hospital have been received by his Department; what proportion these form of the total which will be needed; and how many have been approved.

Mr. Walker-Smith

Until the Regional Hospital Board submits bills of quantities which can be studied with the working drawings, no question of approval can be settled. My officers have seen all the architectural working drawings for the main building which they need at this stage and the board has been sent comments on them.