§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Livingston (Mr. Cook) of 8 February,Official Report, column 764, if he will list by regional health authority (a) how many helicopters are currently in service in the ambulance service and (b) what is their annual upkeep cost, including air and maintenance crews.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyI refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Romsey and Waterside (Mr. Colvin) on 23 January at columns656–57. No information is available centrally on the annual operating costs of helicopter ambulances in use in the NHS.