§ Mr. Maxtonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services, of the new hospitals opened since 1979, what percentage of beds are not yet in use.
§ Mr. WhitneyInformation collected centrally relates to hospital schemes costing £2 million or more to build; in the 81 schemes completed and fully commissioned since the beginning of 1979, less than 2 per cent. of beds are not yet in use out of a total of almost 15,500 new beds provided for National Health Service patients. These beds will be brought into use following the implementation of planned changes within the local pattern of health services.
§ Mr. Maxtonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services, of the new hospitals started in England, Wales and Scotland since 1979, how many were approved before that date; and how many hospitals have been approved since 1979.
§ Mr. WhitneySince 1979, 74 new hospital schemes each costing in excess of £5 million have been started on site in Great Britain. Of these 22 were approved before 1979 and 52 after.