§ Mr. Mitchisonasked the Minister of Health what is the total amount of the decrease in the financial content of the hospital building programme 1963–1974 shown by the latest revision as compared with the programme previously agreed for the Oxford Regional Hospital Board; what schemes have now been excluded until the period 1970 to 1974; and what schemes, originally included in the period up to 1972–73, have now been deferred beyond 1974.
§ Mr. BarberThe financial content of the hospital building programme for this region has not been decreased, as implied in the hon. and learned Member's Question. On the contrary, this year's revision shows an increase for the region of £7 million compared with what was originally proposed.
As I have previously explained, with changes in priorities, involving the development of new projects in the 16W national programme and the bringing forward and the enlargement of others, it has been necessary, despite an increased hospital programme in real terms, to defer some schemes.
The following are the schemes suggested as likely to start within the original programme but now beyond it and expected to start before the end of the ten-year programme of the revised plan:
Northampton General Hospital—first phase of major redevelopment.Stoke Mandeville Hospital—first phase of development.In answer to the last part of the Question the schemes included in the programme following the first revision which are now likely to start some time after 1974 are as follows:
Danetre Hospital, Daventry—Modernisation and extension.Corby—extension to diagnostic centre and maternity unit.Corby—Annexe to Kettering General Hospital.Pewsey Hospital, Wiltshire—new villa.Townlands Hospital, Henley-on-Thames—modernisation.Amersham General Hospital—development.Psychopathic unit and adolescent psychiatric unit.Northampton General Hospital—second phase of redevelopment.New hospital at Cirencester—second phase.Royal Berkshire and Battle Hospitals, Reading—further development.Many schemes now differ considerably in scope from what was earlier envisaged, and are likely to change further.