asked the Minister of Health if he will list the names of new hospitals built in England and Wales since 1952, and the bed capacity of each.

As the Answer includes a table of figures I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Can the right hon. Gentleman confirm that there are only four new hospitals, representing one every three years, and that the average number of beds in each hospital is about 300, which is half the minimum size for a district general hospital? In this table, do we see the distinction, which none of us on either side of the House has ever appreciated before, between a slightly remodelled hospital and a substantially remodelled hospital and a new hospital?

As a medical man, it is time that the hon. Gentleman directed his attention to the great achievements and great improvements of the hospital service which are in train. If his interest is genuine—[HON. MEMBERS: "Answer."]—I will answer—if the hon. Gentleman's interest is genuine, he should first consider the figures which will appear in HANSARD tomorrow and, secondly, be thoroughly ashamed of his own Labour Government which actually cut the social services in their last year of office.

Can I have an answer to my question? What is the difference between a substantially remodelled hos- pital and a remodelled hospital and between a substantially remodelled hospital and a new hospital? Many hospital authorities and doctors who are genuinely interested in this matter are very anxious that the Minister should make a statement.

I will give an answer. Perhaps I can give an example of a substantially remodelled hospital—St. Luke's, Huddersfield. Work in progress will increase the number of beds from 235 to 400, of which 320 will be in new buildings and 80 in upgraded wards. In addition, there will be ancillary services and a conversion of existing buildings to a new use. It is completely unrealistic not to consider together new hospitals built on virgin sites and those which are substantially remodelled.

As the Prime Minister has said, inaccurately, that a new hospital is being started every nineteen days, does not the right hon. Gentleman think that my hon. Friend is entitled to ask how many hospitals have been completed in the last twelve years? Since it is only one in three years, the right hon. Gentleman should not get quite so hot under the collar.

I thought that we had dealt with this in a debate that we had before Christmas. All I can say is that what the Prime Minister said is true and cannot be controverted, for the reason which I have explained to the hon. Gentleman.

The new and substantially remodelled hospitals completed since 1952 are as follows: