§ Mr. Lomasasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is aware of the defects recently discovered in the 17W ceilings at the Huddersfield Royal Infirmary; if he will make a full statement indicating the number of ceilings affected, the number of wards affected, and how many patients have had to be moved to other wards and/or to other hospitals; and why these defects have arisen in a hospital that has only been open two years.
§ Mr. EnnalsYes; tests are being made throughout the hospital. There is no evidence of any failure in the phase I contracts but so far a large proportion of the ceilings erected in the second phase of building (mainly the out-patient department and 10 wards) have been found to be affected. Defects are being remedied two wards at a time. Sixty patients have so far had to be moved, 29 of them to other hospitals. The defects are due to the wrong plaster being used in certain areas for the first coat applied beneath the concrete structural floors. The contractor has accepted financial responsibility.