§ Mr. Elystan Morganasked the Secretary of State for Walwhat percentage 155W of the total expenditure on hospitals in Wales in the last financial year was on local cottage hospitals; and if he will give an undertaking that this percentage will not be reduced over the next five years.
§ Mr. Peter ThomasI take the term "cottage hospitals" to refer to hospitals in which there are no beds under consultant control. During the financial year 1971–72, the last for which figures are available, 3.69 per cent. of total hospital expenditure in Wales was on such hospitals. The ratio of total expenditure devoted to any given type of hospital will depend on requirements.