§ Mr. LidingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health when he now intends to announce a decision on the proposed merger of the Stoke Mandeville Hospital and the South Buckinghamshire NHS trusts. [25504]
§ Ms Blears[holding answer 9 January 2002]: I apologise to the hon. Member for the delay in responding to this question. I refer the hon. Member to the reply that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State gave my hon. Friend the Member for Blackpool, North and Fleetwood (Mrs. Humble) on 5 March 2002, column 192W.
The merger of Stoke Mandeville Hospital NHS Trust and South Buckinghamshire NHS Trust has been proposed by the Trusts and Buckingamshire health authority. Ministers have agreed, in principle, that the public should be consulted on the proposal before any decision is made. The timing of the consultation is currently being finalised.