§ Mr. Grieveasked the Secretary of State for the Social Services why capital expenditure on hospital building work in the Birmingham region has been reduced 548W from 13.1 per cent. of the English total in 1965–66 to 7.4 per cent. in 1969–70; and what his proposals are for allocation to the Birmingham region in 1970–71 and 1971–72 expressed in terms both of proposed expenditure and of such expenditure as a percentage of total English expenditure.
§ Sir K. JosephThe figures reflect variations from year to year in the progress of major schemes. The estimated capital expenditure during 1970–71 in the Birmingham Region (including the United Birmingham Hospitals) is expected to be nearly £10½ million or about 9 per cent. of the total expenditure in England. The Supply Estimates for 1971–72 will be published shortly: the capital expenditure for the region in that year is provisionally estimated to be about 11 per cent. of the total expenditure in England.