§ Mr. Mike Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he expects to announce the location of the 1,000 pay beds to be withdrawn from NHS hospitals within six months of the Health Services Act 1976 having received Royal Assent.
§ Mr. EnnalsMy right hon. Friends and I expect to publish a full list of the 1,000532W pay beds to be withdrawn from NHS hospitals in Great Britain by the beginning of May. Health authorities in England which have been consulting locally have been asked to let me have their detailed proposals by 28th February. This will allow reasonable time for considering their recommendations and for the preparation and issue of revised pay bed authorisations well in advance of the statutory requirement which is that this should be done by 21st May 1977.