asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he has made a decision on the proposal to close temporarily the Henderson hospital.

I have rejected this proposal and decided that this hospital must be kept open. The Department has advised the South-West Thames regional health authority that, as an exceptional measure, the running costs of the hospital over the next two years may be met from the region's allocation of funds for secure treatment. The Department has also requested the authority to keep the costs of the hospital under regular review to ensure that its services are provided economically.