HC Deb 08 May 1961 vol 640 cc4-5W
Mr. Mason

asked the Minister of Health what other priority projects in the Sheffield Region have proved more important than the need for the new St. Helen Hospital, Barnsley.

Mr. Powell

Approval of five major schemes was announced sooner, viz.: developments at Aston Hall, Balderton and Scunthorpe Hospitals and at Don-caster Royal Infirmary, and the first stage of the new Sheffield Teaching Hospital.

Mr. Mason

asked the Minister of Health when he expects to be able to give an approximate cost of the preparation of plans for the new St. Helen Hospital, Barnsley.

Mr. Powell

Not for some time.

Mr. Mason

asked the Minister of Health whether he has yet found another team of architects willing to carry on with the planning of the new St. Helen Hospital, Barnsley.

Mr. Powell

The board has not yet made an appointment.

Mr. Mason

asked the Minister of Health whether the architects who have retired from the planning of St. Helen Hospital, Barnsley, are now engaged on hospital planning within the Sheffield Region.

Mr. Powell

Yes.

Mr. Mason

asked the Minister of Health how many teams of architects have now been employed on the planning of the new St. Helen Hospital, Barnsley.

Mr. Powell

One firm.

Mr. Mason

asked the Minister of Health why the cost of the proposed new St. Helen Hospital has risen to £4,000,000.

Mr. Powell

Mainly because the hospital now proposed will be larger.

Mr. Mason

asked the Minister of Health if he will give an assurance that the St. Helen Hospital, Barnsley, has the same priority on the list of major hospital projects to be centrally financed as when announced on 16th November, 1959.

Mr. Powell

This scheme was announced in December, 1956. The list is not an order of priority.

Mr. Mason

asked the Minister of Health if he will now state the reasons for delay in completing the planning of the new St. Helen Hospital, Barnsley, in view of the fact that planning was due to be completed in 1957.

Mr. Powell

I would refer the hon. Member to the replies I gave him on 24th April.