§ Mr. Rowlandsasked the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what is his latest estimate of overspending on the University of Wales Teaching Hospital;
(2) what staff of the Welsh Regional Hospital Board is at present seconded to the University of Wales Hospital Management Committee; and for what purpose;
(3) what is the rank of the staff of the Welsh Hospital Board seconded to the University of Wales Hospital Management Committee;
(4) what proposals have been made by the University of Wales Hospital Management Committee for the strengthening of its administrative structure;
(5) whether the overspending by the University of Wales Hospital Management Committee on the University of Wales Teaching Hospital is to be met by an additional Exchequer grant or out of the existing budget of the Welsh Hospital Board.
§ Mr. Peter ThomasA forecast that revenue expenditure by the hospital management committee would exceed its66W allocation of £17.3 million for all its hospitals and services in 1972–73 caused the Welsh Hospital Board in September to set up a team to assess the situation and oversee the measures that might be necessary. The team consists of the board's senior administrative medical officer, the deputy treasurer, a principal assistant secretary, a nursing officer, an assistant secretary and others. No staff has been seconded to the hospital management committee. The latest estimate is that overspending throughout the group might be £0.6 million in 1972–73 but it is not possible to be precise since the work of the team is not yet completed. Until then it is premature to say how any overspend should be met, how much is attributable to the University Hospital of Wales, and whether further remedial measures will be necessary.