asked the Minister of Health whether he intends to provide a new general hospital in south-east Durham; and whether the new town of Peterlee will be considered for its location in view of its suitability for this purpose.

A new general hospital is to be built at Stockton-on-Tees. There is no present intention of building a hospital at Peterlee.

Is the Minister acquainted with the geography of the district? Is he aware that Stockton is 20 miles away; that the facilities at Sunderland and West Hartlepool are most inadequate; that the population of the Easington district is over 80,000, and that the target population for the new town, Peterlee, is 30,000? Does not that necessitate a general hospital?

I am aware of the desirability of the improvement of the hospital facilities serving the area, but the prospective population of Peterlee would not form the basis for a general hospital of the appropriate size.