HC Deb 13 January 1997 vol 288 c172W
Mr. Chris Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many hospitals there are currently; and how many there were in 1979. [10689]

Mr. Horam

The number of national health service hospitals in England, as defined by section 128 of the NHS Act 1977, is not available centrally, nor has it ever been.

For the years 1979 to 1991, figures are available, based on a count of hospitals providing residential facilities. These were set out in the answer to a question from the hon. Member for Derby, South (Mrs. Beckett) on 16 May 1995, Official Report, columns 173–76.