§ Sir Cyril SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Health to what extent he proposes to answer parliamentary questions about hospitals which acquire trust status.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeNHS trusts will remain an integral part of the national health service. We shall continue to answer questions on all national health service matters to the extent that information is available centrally. Hon. Members should continue to look in the first instance to the chairmen of regional, district and family health service authorities for information about day-to-day local management issues in all directly managed NHS hospitals and units. In future, they should look in the first instance to the chairmen of NHS trusts for similar information about self-governing units.