§ 4.32 a.m.
§ Mr. Nigel Spearing (Newham, South)I beg leave to present a petition, signed by 8,863 residents of the London borough of Newham.
§ The petition reads as follows:
§ To the Honourable the Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in Parliament assembled;
§ The Humble Petition of the undersigned ratepayers and residents of the London Borough of Newham Sheweth:
§ That the statement of the Secretary of State for Social Services that he will permit the closure of the Plaistow Maternity Hospital has given grave offence to the citizens and burgesses of the London Borough of Newham;
§ That notwithstanding the requests of a deputation of representatives of the Borough Council, the Community Health Council, the Voluntary Agencies Council and Members of Parliament of the Borough of Newham, the Secretary of State did not engage in local consultation, or cause a clinical assessment to be made, or require an early commencement of building of replacement facilities on the site of the new Woodside Hospital;
§ That the savings on revenue costs stated by the said Secretary from the said closure and other closures, would in a period of less than five years pay for costs of new facilities;
§ That the said Secretary of State has made no statement concerning the likely additional population of 20,000 persons resulting from the development of adjacent docklands;
§ Wherefore your petitioners pray that this Honourable House will require that the said Secretary of State for Social Services shall suspend, change, or otherwise vary his permission for the closure of the Plaistow Maternity Hospital, or any other similar facilities serving the Borough of Newham, unless and until new alternative 900 facilities are completed at the Woodside Hospital site.
§ And your Petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray, &c.
§ To lie upon the Table.