§ Mr. Ralph Howellasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many National Health Service hospitals there are in England; how many are fully in use; how many are partially in use; and how many are under construction.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeIn 1981, the latest date for which information is available, 1,937 hospitals provided inpatient facilities.
Information is not collected centrally oil the proportion of hospital facilities in use. For a number of reasons, including maintenance and refurbishment, not all hospitals are fully operational at any given time.
Twenty-eight major hospital schemes, including some extensions to existing hospitals, are currently under construction. Many smaller schemes are also under way.
§ Mr. Jannerasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will now instruct all hospitals in the United Kingdom to comply with Crown improvement and Crown prohibition notices, served upon them in substitution for those statutory notices which they would receive were they not protected by Crown immunity.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeExisting guidance to health authorities in England makes it clear that they are expected where reasonably practicable to comply with the requirements of Crown improvement and Crown prohibition notices. The most recent guidance on this subject was issued in July last year. Should an authority not comply with the terms of a notice the matter would be taken up with the Department and the Health and Safety Executive. However, no case of refusal to comply has been brought to my attention.
368WThe position in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretaries of State for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.