asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will now announce that a special financial allocation is to be made to enable a community hospital to be built in Skelmersdale.

I have had no formal request from the regional health authority for a special allocation, but my Depart- ment has received informally a copy of its consultative document which raises the question of such an allocation being made. My Department will be discussing the consultative document with the regional health authority.