asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what recent steps she has taken to improve the care of the elderly in North-East Essex, owing to the growing shortage of geriatric beds in hospitals because of the retarding of the hospital building programme.

In the last two years 40 day places have been opened in Clacton and also in Colchester; some improvements have been made at Heath Hospital, Tendring; and the Essex Area Health Authority planning teams are in consultation with the local authorities concerned.