Building Projects

Oral Answers to Questions — Hospital – in the House of Commons am 12:00 am ar 19 Rhagfyr 1960.

Danfonwch hysbysiad imi am ddadleuon fel hyn

Photo of Mr James Boyden Mr James Boyden , Bishop Auckland 12:00, 19 Rhagfyr 1960

asked the Minister of Health the average length of time which elapses between a regional hospital board approving a building project and the commencement of the actual building work.

Photo of Mr Enoch Powell Mr Enoch Powell , Wolverhampton South West

The dates of approval by boards do not come to my knowledge.

Photo of Mr James Boyden Mr James Boyden , Bishop Auckland

Is it not a pity that the right hon. Gentleman's advisers did not tell him that this summer was a wet one so that under-spending on the hospital building programme could have been to some extent anticipated? Is he not aware that a hospital in my area which wants to put up a changing room for nurses will not be able to do so because of the re-allocation due to under-spending? Should not he have taken action much earlier?

Photo of Mr Enoch Powell Mr Enoch Powell , Wolverhampton South West

I will be glad to look at the instance mentioned by the hon. Gentleman.

Photo of Dr Edith Summerskill Dr Edith Summerskill , Warrington

In view of the fact that every hon. Member has a right to come to the Minister to ask him about lapses of time between the initial approval and the starting of the building, is it not a little curious that he is never given any information about the approval in the first place?

Photo of Mr Enoch Powell Mr Enoch Powell , Wolverhampton South West

Some of the projects do not require action on my part, so the approval by a board does not come to my official knowledge at all. But where the project does require my approval, as I say, I am not aware of the date on which the board approves the project.