asked the Minister for Health if he will state (a) the total expenditure on hospitals and sanatoria, by way of capital grants from the Hospitals Trust funds, in the financial year 1955-56, and to date in the current financial year, and (b) the estimated expenditure during the remainder of the financial year.

Capital grants paid out of the Hospitals Trust fund totalled £2,375,618 19s. 6d. in 1955-56. In the current financial year such payments amounted to £1,104,611 8s. 10d. up to 19th October, 1956. The estimated expenditure on capital grants for the remainder of the present financial year is £1,082,000.