HC Deb 25 July 1980 vol 989 cc442-3W
Mr. Parry

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many letters the Minister of State or his Department has now received against the proposed closure of the heart unit at the Royal Liverpool children's hospital to the latest available date.

Dr. Vaughan

As well as a number of letters from individual members of the public, received during the course of the year, I have recently had, both directly from the public and via the hon. Member and the right hon. Member for Huyton (Sir H. Wilson) and the hon. Members for Toxteth (Mr. Crawshaw) and St. Helens (Mr. Spriggs) a quantity of pre-printed circular letters objecting to the plan by Liverpool area health authority (teaching) to close the in-patient facilities at the Myrtle Street branch of the Royal Liverpool children's hospital. None of these, however, has referred specifically to the proposed transfer of the heart unit to Alder Hey children's hospital.

Mr. Parry

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the names of hon. Members who have now made representations to the Minister of State or his Department concerning the proposed closure of the heart unit at the Royal Liverpool children's hospital.

Dr. Vaughan

The position is unchanged from that reported in my letter to the hon. Member of 18 June, viz. that letters have been received from my hon. Friend the Member for Anglesey (Mr. Best), and the hon. Member for Caernarvon (Mr. Wigley). Also an early-day motion was tabled on 2 June in the name of the hon. Member and that of the hon. Members for Liverpool, Walton (Mr. Heffer), Liverpool, West Derby (Mr. Ogden), Bootle (Mr. Roberts), Birkenhead (Mr. Field) and Ormskirk (Mr. Kilroy-Silk).