HC Deb 31 March 1969 vol 781 cc18-9W
Mr. Allason

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list in the OFFICIAL REPORT the number of hospital beds in each of the new towns in England, together with the numbers that those beds serve.

Mr. Crossman

The numbers of beds which contribute to the services provided for the area in which the new town is situated are shown in the list below. The residents of new towns are not exclusively dependent upon beds within their boundaries nor are those beds for their exclusive use.

New Towns(1) Number of beds
Basildon … —(2)
Bracknell … 201(3)
Crawley … 108(4)
Harlow … 282
Hatfield … 19(5)
Hemel Hempstead … 411
Stevenage … 18(5)
Welwyn Garden City … 449
Aycliffe … 680(3)
Telford … 280(6)
Corby … 20(7)
Peterlee … —
Redditch … 32
Runcorn … 26
Skelmersdale … —
Washington … —

Notes:

(1) New towns where development has not yet commenced are excluded.

(2) The first phase of a new hospital under construction will provide 370 beds by the end of 1971.

(3) Mental subnormality beds only.

(4) 222 additional beds to be provided by the end of this year.

(5) Chronic sick beds only.

(6) Includes 135 long-stay beds.

(7) Maternity beds only.