§ Mr. BluntTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what the cost has been to date to the Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS trust of the suspension of the transfer of health services between Crawley Hospital and East Surrey Hospital; [51929]
(2) if he will publish the advice given to the south east region NHS Executive by the Surrey and Sussex healthcare NHS trust before his decision to suspend the transfer of services between Crawley and east Surrey hospitals announced on 27 March 2001. [51931]
§ Ms Blears[holding answer 2 May 2002]: As indicated in the written answer given to the hon. Member on 3 April 2001, Official Report, volume 366, column 140W, the total cost of maintaining services at both sites was approximately £239,000 up to January 2002 and approximately £53,000 per month thereafter. This would give a total approximate cost of £292,000 up to the end of April 2002. Negotiations on the service and financial 265W framework for the Surrey and Sussex health authority are still on-going therefore it is not possible, at this time, to give a final confirmation of the total cost.
Information provided to Department officials and the subsequent advice those officials provide to Ministers is confidential.