§ Mr. CohenTo ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage which hospitals have had statutory listings changed in the last five years; if he will list the date and reason in each case; and if he will also list current applications for changes.
§ Mr. SproatThis information is not readily available.
§ Mr. CohenTo ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage, pursuant to his oral answer of 12 July,Official Report, columns 657–58, what progress has been made by the task force between his Department and the Department of Health about listed hospitals.
§ Mr. SproatI refer to the answer I gave to the hon. Member on 25 October 1993,Official Report, column 470.
§ Mr. CohenTo ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what hospitals have been specifically considered by the task force between his Department and the Department of Health on listed hospitals.
§ Mr. SproatThe guidance being prepared by the Department of Health and English Heritage task force will include examples of good practice from the NHS, and a number of sites have been mentioned informally in the course of discussions. Some sites where particular problems have been met have also been discussed informally. It would not be appropriate to divulge the names of these sites at this stage.
§ Mr. CohenTo ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage if he will place in the Library the reports, or summaries of reports, considered by the task force between his Department and the Department of Health on listed hospitals.
§ Mr. SproatThe primary role of the Department of Health and English Heritage task force is to prepare 99W guidance which will assist NHS authorities to discharge their obligations for listed properties while providing health services of high quality and good value. The task force is developing the guidance from a first draft produced by English Heritage. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health will place a copy of the final guidance in the Library when it is available.