§ Mr. Freud asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will give the full reasons which have caused him to reverse his 1979 decision to keep open the Bowthorpe maternity hospital;
§ (2) what criteria in respect of staffing and infant mortality he follows in making a decision to close a maternity hospital; and how far from acceptable the staffing and safety at the Bowthorpe maternity hospital, Wisbech were when he ordered that deliveries and inpatient care be transferred forthwith;
§ (3) if, in relation to the problem of the utmost urgency identified in his letter to the chairman of Norfolk area health authority in respect of the Bowthorpe maternity 456W hospital, he will indicate the period of time by which he expects there to be no more births or in—patient admissions at the hospital;
§ (4) whether he will meet a delegation from Wisbech to discuss his letter to the chairman of Norfolk area health authority in respect of the Bowthorpe maternity hospital.
§ Mr. Geoffrey Finsberg: I shall write to the hon. Member.