asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many cases of unlawful entries into National Health Service hospitals have taken place in each of the last five years; how many prosecutions have resulted in the same period; and if he will make a statement as to whether he is satisfied with security arrangements in National Health Service hospitals.

Information about the number of cases of unlawful entry into National Health Service hospitals, and the number of prosecutions resulting, is not available centrally.It is the responsibility of individual health authorities to provide adequate security arrangements in their hospitals and health premises, and I have every confidence in their exercise of this responsibility.