§ 51. Mr. LathamTo ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he has now received details of the decision by Leicestershire community health council to oppose the closure of the maternity units at St. Mary's hospital, Melton Mowbray, and the Rutland Memorial hospital; and whether he will now advise Leicestershire health authority to abandon those proposals rather than proceed to statutory determination by himself.
§ Mrs. CurrieThe views of the community health council have not been formally sent to my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State.
Leicestershire health authority is currently consulting on these proposals; the consultation period ends on 31 December. It would not be right for me to intervene in the way proposed. I must remain impartial as the final decision on the proposals may have to be taken by Ministers, if the community health council opposes the proposals.