asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is now in a position to make a statement about the civilian use of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Woolwich.

Last autumn I asked the Greenwich and Bexley Area Health Authority to construct a plan for future services in its area on the basis that 140–150 beds in the Queen Elizabeth Military Hospital should be used for National Health Service patients. I have now withdrawn this request following representations from the area health authority about the effect this would have on local plans for rationalisation of services. I am consulting my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Ministry of Defence about the extent to which facilities at the military hospital might realistically be used by National Health Service patients.