§ Mr. Heddleasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement about the timing of the decision by the West Midlands regional health authority regarding the location and commitment to the provision of a new district general hospital and the upgrading and management of other hospital facilities within the South-East Staffordshire health district.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeThe West Midlands regional health authority's proposals for south-east Staffordshire, as outlined in its draft capital programme, include the provision of a new district general hospital and the upgrading of existing hospital facilities. I expect the authority to take final decisions on its capital programme within the next few months following discussions with district health authorities. The authority has to make difficult judgments about the relative priority of the claims from all its districts. However there appears to be little controversy about the need for a new district general hospital within south-east Staffordshire and the RHA has to decide when rather than whether this can be provided.