asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he can now state when the building of the new Strathclyde Hospital at Motherwell is to commence.

The published hospital plan said that this new district general hospital would be started between 1966 and 1971. On present planning it should start about 1968.

That is an exceedingly disappointing Answer. Is the Secretary of State aware that there is a very urgent need for this hospital in this area, which is part of a designated growth area where so much money is supposed to be spent? Taking these things into account, will the right hon. Gentleman ensure that this date is brought forward by at least three years?

I think that it is fair to say that all the district general hospitals in the Western Region are of considerable importance. The regional hospital board has studied them all. It is planning simultaneously a great deal of the work in building these hospitals and it is its view that 1968 is the suitable date. In fact, in view of the amount of work which has to be done in planning this hospital, it would be very difficult to advance it very much before that.

Since the right hon. Gentleman claims that a new hospital is being started every 19 days, will he confirm that the Strathclyde Hospital is the last hospital to go to Scotland?

That is not true.