§ Mr. Sydney Irvingasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (i) if he is satisfied that the South East Thames Regional Health Authority and the local authority social services departments concerned will have (a) the financial resources and or (b) the time to make the necessary arrangements to deal with patients who will have to be removed from Darenth Park Dartford before 1st January 1985 in the event of the hospital being sold for the purpose of chalk extraction;
(2) what information is available to him of the plans of the South East Thames Regional Health Authority for providing adequate alternative accommodation for patients at Darenth Park Hospital, Dartford in the event of the sale of the hospital to the Associated Portland Cement Manufacturers for chalk extraction;
(3) what is his estimate of the number of patients at Darenth Park Hospital, Dartford who will remain the responsibility of the South-East Thames Regional Hospital Authority in the event of the sale of the hospital for the purpose of chalk extraction and the number of patients who would become 202W the responsibility of the various local authority social services departments;
(4) what is his estimate of the number of patients who would become the responsibility of the social services departments of Kent Council and the London boroughs of Bexley, Bromley, Greenwich, Lambeth, Lewisham and Southwark, respectively, in the event of the sale of Darenth Park Hospital, Dartford for chalk extraction; and what plans he has on the financing of this additional responsibility.
§ Mr. MoyleThese matters are being discussed between the regional and area health authorities and the local authorities concerned. It would be inappropriate for me to comment while the inquiry now being conducted by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment's inspector is in progress and I would not wish to prejudice issues which may be referred to us at a later stage. My right hon. Friend will not agree to the closure of Darenth Park Hospital unless he is satisfied that adequate arrangements are made for the future care of the patients.