Mr. Moomanasked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many hospital beds in the past 12 months have been taken out of use due to lack of staff or financial reasons; and what effect the devolution proposal for an Assembly in Edinburgh will have on this.
§ Mr. Harry EwingDuring the year to 30th September 1976, 123 beds were taken out of use because of shortage of staff, and 22 for financial reasons: these figures exclude beds temporarily out of use during holiday periods. In the same period 112 beds which had previously been taken out of use for staffing reasons were brought back into use. Under the proposals in Cmnd. 6348 the Scottish administration will be responsible for health matters in Scotland.