§ Mr. Geoffrey Lloydasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what, for the most recent period of five years for which figures are available, is the average time intervening between the approval by him of plans for capital projects in National Health Service hospitals and the initiation of building work upon such projects.
§ Mr. CrossmanNew hospital building procedures were introduced in 1967. These have accelerated the planning of projects but it is not yet possible to give a meaningful average figure for the planning stage mentioned.