§ Mr. Christopher Hawkinsasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether his Department has an up-to-date survey of the size and conditions of the hospital buildings used by the National Health Service.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeThis information is held by individual health authorities who were asked to complete condition surveys of their estates by the end of last month.
§ Mr. Christopher Hawkinsasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he is satisfied with the numbers and condition of the hospital building stock which is used by the National Health Service; and what are his plans to improve these buildings in the future.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeFor the most part the volume of the hospital building stock is more than adequate for its purpose, although its condition inevitably varies. We are making a substantial investment in new building to the extent that 40 major (£5 million plus) schemes have been completed since 1979 and a further 139 £2 million plus schemes are currently at the stage of planning, design or construction. We are also encouraging health authorities to invest wisely in the maintenance and improvement of their existing estates by requiring them to undertake, firstly, condition surveys, to be followed by space utilisation and functional suitability studies of those estates.