§ Mr. AllenTo ask the Secretary of State for Health on how many occasions over the past 10 years and in respect of which properties his Department has specifically agreed that(a) capital proceeds and (b) revenue arising from the disposal of hospitals for the mentally ill need not be used for the benefit of the mentally ill.
§ Mr. DorrellNone.
§ Mr. AllenTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what steps he has taken to ensure that(a) the capital 616W proceeds and (b) the revenue arising from the disposal of hospitals for the mentally ill has been used by health authorities for the benefit of the mentally ill, as provided in his Department's handbook "Property Transactions in the NHS"; and if he will make a statement;
(2) what steps he has taken to ensure that health authorities are fully aware of the contents of his Department's handbook "Property Transactions in the NHS"; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. DorrellThe handbook "Property Transactions in the NHS" was issued widely throughout the NHS in August 1989. It was issued under cover of a health notice HN(89)13 (a copy of which is available in the Library) which, in its annex, listed those occasions when health authorities were required to refer property transactions to the Department. The Department does not routinely monitor compliance with the requirements of "Property Transactions in the NHS", but we have no reason to think the health authorities are not co-operating.