§ Dr. Kingasked the Minister of Health what is the total amount of the decrease in the financial content of the hospital building programme 1963–74 shown by the latest revision as compared with the programme previously agreed for the Wessex Regional Hospital Board; what schemes have now been excluded until the period 1970–74; and what schemes originally included in the period up to 1972–73 are now deferred beyond 1974.
§ Mr. BarberThe financial content of the hospital building programme for this region has not been decreased, as implied in the hon. Member's Question. On the contrary, this year's revision shows an increase for the region of £8 million compared with what was originally proposed.
As I have previously explained, with changes in priorities, involving the development of new projects in the 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 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 me revised plan are as follows:
New hospital for the mentally subnormal, near Poole.18WRoyal Hampshire County Hospital, Winchester—further stages towards completion of rebuilding.Queen Alexandra Hospital, Cosham—accident centre.New hospital for the mentally subnormal, in the north of the Region.Of the schemes which were in the programme following the first revision only the addition of 80 beds at Longford Hospital has been deferred beyond 1974.
Many schemes now differ considerably in scope from what was earlier envisaged, and are likely to change further.