§ Mr. ParryTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will make a statement on the meeting held with the hon. Member for Liverpool, Riverside and members of a delegation about the proposed closure of St. Paul's eye hospital and the provision of eye care on Merseyside;
(2) if he will list the representations he has received concerning the proposed closure of St. Paul's eye hospital and eye care on Merseyside; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. DorrellWe are considering carefully the points raised at the meeting I had recently with the hon. Member. In addition, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State will shortly be meeting a delegation led by my hon. Friend the Member for Macclesfield (Mr. Winterton) before we come to a final decision.
We have received representations from the Liverpool Central and Southern community health council, Canon Frayling, the Rector of Liverpool, and, in addition to the hon. Members already mentioned, the hon. Member for 498W Liverpool, Mossley Hill (Mr. Alton) and the hon. Members who put their names to early-day motions 273 on 19 December 1990 and 773 on 30 April. Our attention has been drawn to a petition presented to the Prime Minister's office and we have received 10 letters addressed directly to Ministers.