§ Mr. DarlingTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the estimated additional costs that will be incurred by the Lothian health board in the event that the Edinburgh dental school is closed, showing(a) the estimated additional cost of funding clinical posts currently available at the school and (b) the recurrent loan charges for the capital cost of providing a new building for the dental hospital.
§ Mr. Michael ForsythThe cost of funding clinical posts in any new dental hospital in Edinburgh is not yet known. In evidence to the McCallum working party, Lothian health board estimated that an additional £220,750 would be needed to meet total staff costs. Capital expenditure in the National Health Service is not funded on a recurrent loan basis.