§ Mr. FearnTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many hospital(a) maternity units and (b) accident and emergency units in (i) the North West of England and (ii) England, have been (1) closed and (2) merged since 1 May 1997. [37282]
§ Mr. MilburnInformation about the closure or merger of hospital maternity and accident and emergency units is not collected centrally and although general information about the total numbers of accident and emergency units is collated, this does not show how many have been merged or closed. To obtain all the information sought by the hon. Member would incur disproportionate costs.