§ Mr. Spearingasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list those places in England and Wales where major improvements, building or updating are envisaged to maternity facilities contrary to the recommendations and intentions 464W set out in respect of maternity provision in his recent White Paper.
§ Dr. OwenUsing the consultative document "Priorities for Health and Personal Social Services in England" as a framework, regional and area health authorities are completing their review of existing health services and resources and preparing strategic and operational plans from 1977–78 onwards, which will take into account the national view of priorities, including those for maternity services, indicated in the document. I am not, therefore, able to provide any national list of major improvements, etc., at this time.
§ Mr. Spearingasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will now make a site valuation of the sites and/or buildings of Plaistow and Forest Gate Maternity Hospitals, respectively, and make estimates of the additional costs to the proposed phase one of the Woodside Hospital, Newham, of providing equivalent facilities on that site to those now proposed at Plaistow.
§ Dr. OwenNo. It is for the health authorities to consider first the need for site valuations and any variation in the functional content agreed for the Newham Nucleus Hospital.