asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on the situation in hospitals in the south-west Surrey health district.

Health authorities are well aware of the importance I place on their keeping expenditure within their budgets and consequently of making the best use of their resources. I understand that the Surrey Area Health Authority, having consulted the District Management Team, has therefore decided on minor reductions of service in the south-west Surrey health district, including the temporary closure of a number of hospital beds. As soon as revenue allocations for 1977–78 are known the health authority will carry out a complete review of all health services in the district in the light of the expected completion of phase I of the new district general hospital at Guildford later this year.