HC Deb 05 June 1980 vol 985 cc829-30W
Mr. Parry

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will meet a deputation of the action committee and trade unions objecting to the proposed closure of the heart unit at the Royal Liverpool children's hospital;

(2) if he will list in the Official Report the names of organisations and hon. Members who have objected to him against the proposed closure of the heart unit at the Royal Liverpool children's hospital.

Mr. Patrick Jenkin

Ministers in this Department are always ready to welcome deputations from hon, and right hon. Members, but I am not clear that it would be appropriate for me to meet a deputation in this case. As I understand it, there is no proposal to close the paediatric cardiology unit at the Royal Liverpool children's hospital, though it is planned to rebuild it in more spacious and modern accommodation when replacement of existing equipment necessitates a move from its present cramped conditions in the basement of the hospital. I have received no representations on the subject from either organisations or hon. Members, though I have noted the early-day motion tabled on 2 June in the name of the hon. Member and that of the hon. Members for Liverpool, Walton (Mr. Heffer), Liverpool, West Derby (Mr. Ogden), Bootle (Mr. Roberts), Birkenhead (Mr. Field) and Ormskirk (Mr. Kilroy-Silk).