§ Mr. Austin Mitchellasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will publish for each year since 1978 and at the latest available date the number of National Health Service hospital wards closed (a) permanently and (b) temporarily and the average number of National Health Service hospital beds which could not be used because of staff or other shortages.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeWe do not have information in the form requested. Numbers of beds in hospitals or parts of hospitals approved for permanent closure are as follows. These are all beds no longer sensibly required for any patient services. We do not collect information on temporary closures or on beds which cannot be used.
Number of beds approved for closure Year Number 1978 4,895 1979 1,987 1980 2,517 1981 2,722 1982 1,157 1983 4,336 1984 4,822 1985* 869 * To 31 March.