§ Mr. PeartI beg to present a Petition which has been compiled in the County of Cumberland and signed by over 12,000 of Her Majesty's loyal subjects living in West Cumberland and especially in the town of Maryport. The purpose of the 1396 Petition is to pray that the maternity facilities at Maryport Victoria Cottage Hospital shall be retained in full, and that the decision of the Minister of Health to approve the closure proposed by the Newcastle Regional Hospital Board shall be reversed.
I can only say that the decision to close this hospital service will cause considerable hardship in Maryport and district. It has been opposed by the Health Committee of the Cumberland County Council, by unanimous local medical opinion and by overwhelming public opinion.
And your Petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray.
§ To lie upon the Table.