§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will agree to the Health Service Board's current proposal to remove a further 566 pay beds from National Health Service hospitals.
§ Mr. Patrick JenkinUnder the previous Government's legislation I am required to implement any proposals put to me by the Health Services Board for the withdrawal of pay beds. The only proposals I have before me at present are those for the withdrawal of 49 pay beds in National Health Service hospitals, which will be implemented with effect from 30 June 1979.
§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the number of pay beds available in each of the last nine years.
§ Dr. VaughanThe information is as follows:
Number of authorised pay beds as at 31 December (England) 1970 4,353 1971 4,456 1972 4,496 1973 4,569 1974 4,567 1975 4,150 1976 4,150 1977 3,213 1978 2,819 1979 (as at 20 June) 2,666