HC Deb 10 February 1997 vol 290 cc11-2W
Mr. Charles Kennedy

To ask the Secretary of State for Health when his Department ceased collecting and holding centrally details of total numbers of hospital closures; what is the latest period since 1979 for which such figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [15170]

Mr. Horam

Information was collected on hospital closures until 1991. From that time responsibility for local closures has been devolved to health authorities and trusts, taking into account local priorities. A list of those substantial variations in services that have been contested by community health councils is available in the Library.