§ Mr. Charles R. Morrisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what are the anticipated staff transfers, redundancies, and additional public expenditure which will arise as a result of the North-West regional health authority's proposals to reduce the acute bed provision at Manchester royal infirmary, St. Mary's hospital and the Manchester royal eye hospital by approximately 250 beds in total;
(2)if he is satisfied that the North-West regional health authority's proposals for reducing, by approximately 250 beds, the acute bed provision at the Manchester royal infirmary, St. Mary's hospital and the Manchester royal eye hospital will not threaten the viability, interdependence and efficiency of the remaining beds;
(3)whether he anticipates adverse effects on the training of medical undergraduates and medical education in Manchester as a result of the North-West regional heath 116W authority's proposals to reduce the acute bed provision at Manchester royal infirmary, St. Mary's hospital and the Manchester royal eye hospital by approximately 250 beds in total.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeThe North Western regional health authority is exploring the scope for reduction in surplus acute services in order to free more resources for under-resourced districts and services for the elderly, mentally ill and mentally handicapped. The authority is required to follow the well-established consultative procedure if it formally proposes any significant reductions in services at any particular hospitals. However, at present no specific proposals have been made and it would be pointless for me to comment on possibilities at this stage when the authority is still considering its policy.