§ Mr. MorganTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consultations he has had with the chairman of the South Glamorgan health authority in relation to the planning and consultation exercise for a neighbourhood hospital on the site of St. David's hospital, Cowbridge Road, East Cardiff; on what date the approval in principle letter was sent to the health authority; on what date the detailed application has been requested from the authority; and on what date he expects the start of construction.
§ Mr. RedwoodThese are matters for the South Glamorgan health authority. My Department advised the authority on a draft proposal for a local hospital on the site on 14 February 1994. No formal application has been submitted.
§ Mr. MorganTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what consultations he has had with the west Wales cardiac care purchasing consortium in relation to the tendering procedure for the open heart surgery unit to be opened at Morriston hospital; what arrangements he has made for the treatment of non-standard open heart surgery cases; what departmental representation there is on the purchasing consortium; and what guarantees have been given regarding the overall activity at the centre in the initial two years.
§ Mr. RedwoodThe South Wales Consortium is represented on the project board managing the competitive tendering process. The board's report and recommendations will be submitted shortly. The purchasing consortium has been operating successfully since 1993 and will work with the Morriston unit to determine overall activity. The unit will treat emergency and elective cases in line with the service specification.