§ Mr. D. Howellasked the Minister of Health why the original authority of approximately £57,000 for the rebuilding of physiotherapy block and three wards at the Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Hospital Group, Oswestry, was exceeded by a sum of £135,000.
§ Mr. Walker-SmithThe figure of £57,000 was for the reinstatement in 1948 of the physiotherapy block and one ward. It was based on a tender accepted in that year by the former governing body of the hospital, obtained by the tendering firms pricing bills of quantities prepared for existing buildings. This proved to be a considerable under estimate. The cost was further increased by the addition to the contract of the reinstatement of three more wards and certain other work, and by variations in wages and the cost of materials.
The additional expenditure was incurred without authority owing to misunderstanding of the proper procedure by the hospital authorities in the early days of the National Health Service. I am, however, satisfied that the work undertaken is such as would have received authority had it been sought.
§ Mr. D. Howellasked the Minister of Health (1) why the Birmingham Regional Hospital Board has been involved in the payment of £452 abortive quantity surveyor's fees in respect of the reconstruction of two wards at the Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Hospital Group, Oswestry;
(2) if he is aware that because of the large number of discrepancies and amendments to the major contract at the Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Hospital Group, Oswestry, the whole of the quantities had to be remeasured involving an excess expenditure of £6,000 plus the contingency sum of £4,500; and what steps have been taken to deal with this negligence;
(3) whether he is aware of public concern over the control of architectural and building work at the Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Hospital Group, 33W Oswestry; if he is aware that the disparity between the planning and the execution of the work is so great that it has proved impossible to have a satisfactory financial examination of the final accounts; and if he will hold an inquiry into this whole matter so as to ascertain the responsibility of the associated architects in this matter, to report what action has been taken in respect of unauthorised and illegal expenditure, and to assess the responsibility of the Birmingham Regional Hospital Board.
§ Mr. Walker-SmithI am aware that certain building was undertaken between 1948 and 1953 without authority, and that estimates of cost were exceeded. Most of these matters came to the knowledge of my Department some years ago, and action was then taken to ensure that the hospital authorities were fully aware of the need to obtain proper authority for capital works. In view of that, and since it was then established that the work which had not been authorised was such as might properly have been authorised by the Minister, I do not at present think that formal inquiry is called for.
I am, however, keeping the matter under consideration and making further inquiries about quantity surveyors' fees and the measurement of the quantities in connection with one contract, and will write to the hon. Member.
§ Mr. D. Howellasked the Minister of Health (1) in what circumstances the Birmingham Regional Hospital Board have had to meet expenditure of £2,600 for site clearance at the Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Hospital Group, Oswestry; if he is aware that their work was undertaken without a licence at a time when one was necessary or without the authority of the Birmingham Regional Hospital Board and without any tenders being invited; and what action is being taken in the matter;
(2) why contractors already on the site at the Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Hospital Group commenced building a nurses' home without any tenders being invited or without any authority; and what action he has taken in the matter.
§ Mr. Walker-SmithI am informed that apart from the site works, competitive tenders were obtained, but the work was commenced, in 1950, before authority34W was obtained. This contravention of the building control procedure was brought to the notice of the Regional Hospital Board at the time.
I am making further inquiries about the site clearance work and will write to the hon. Member when these are completed.
§ Mr. D. Howellasked the Minister of Health why the lowest tender was not accepted for work in connection with the nurses' home garden at the Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Hospital Group. Oswestry; if he is aware that the additional sum of £431 thus involved was incurred without the knowledge of the Regional Hospital Board and in contradiction to the direction of the Board that the lowest tender should be accepted; and what action he proposes to take.
§ Mr. Walker-SmithI am informed that the Hospital Management Committee had accepted the higher tender before the Board's instructions to the contrary were issued. While they certainly should not have done so, there was no additional cost to the Exchequer as the extra cost was met from other moneys at the Committee's disposal. I do not therefore propose at present to take specific action in regard to this. Model Standing Orders, commended to hospital authorities in January, 1956 (H.M. (56) 7) include specific Orders in regard to the acceptance of tenders.
§ Mr. D. Howellasked the Minister of Health if he is aware that in respect of contract work at the Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Hospital Group, Oswestry, materials such as doors, flooring, fireplaces and wall tiles were bought without any competitive tenders being obtained; and, as this is contrary to the public interest, what action he proposes to take.
§ Mr. Walker-SmithI am informed that on the occasions to which I assume the hon. Member refers competitive tenders were obtained for flush doors and door furniture; timber floor finishes were chosen at a time of scarcity, but an estimate was obtained; three fireplaces were bought as a specialist item following a single quotation; and the contractors obtained quotations for wall tiles. It does not at present seem to me that, in the context of the then circumstances, any action is now called for.