§ Mr. McLeishTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will detail his reasons for adopting option D as the basis for acute bed provision in Fife.
§ Mr. Michael ForsythIn deciding on option D I took a view of what was best for patients throughout Fife, taking account of travelling time, the location of population, cost and the demands on the Scottish hospital building programme.
§ Mr. McLeishTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much expenditure is required for the acute bed proposals in Fife contained in option D; and if he will make available this level of expenditure.
§ Mr. Michael ForsythAt present the only expenditure at issue is the Dunfermline development of option D, the cost of which is estimated at £27 million.
The question of substantial capital funding will not arise for a year or two. If approval in principle is granted, that will indicate a firm intention of finance expenditure.
§ Mr. McLeishTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what timetable he now envisages for(a) the submission of Fife health board's option D proposals for acute bed provision in Fife, (b) ministerial decision, (c) agreement of financial allocations and programme and (d) implementation at local level.
§ Mr. Michael ForsythI have asked Fife health board to make a new submission for approval in principle to the Dunfermline development of option D and expect the board to do this as soon as possible, to facilitate an early decision. Allocation of capital funds for the development would then be considered in the context of the capital building programme.
It would be for the health board to progress the implementation of projects within the procedures subsequent to approval in principle.