§ Dr. FoxTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will list the NHS hospitals that have been designated as suitable places to treat Iraqi prisoners of war in need of health care; [108644]
(2) if he will list the NHS hospitals that have drawn up contingency plans for dealing with prisoners of war in need of health care; and whether such plans will be placed in the public domain.[108645]
§ Mr. HuttonIn being ready to receive casualties from the Gulf our approach has been to give the national health service maximum local freedom to respond to the needs of those who return. While it is not the intention to bring prisoners of war back to this country, the NHS would be able to cope if the need arose. Which hospital would be involved would depend on local operational circumstances at the time.