asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if, in allocation of financial resources within the National Health Service, he will take account of the fact that the people of West Fife have to travel to Edinburgh or Kirkcaldy for routine medical hospital treatment and that there are no in-patient facilities in the area for chest, ENT, radiology, ophthalmology, medical paediatrics and others.

Account will be taken of the need for these facilities in an assessment which is being carried out by Fife Health Board of acute bed needs to assist in the planning of phase II of West Fife District General Hospital. This project has a place in the major building programme, but I am not yet able to say when resources will be available.