asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many hospital beds have been closed in each hospital region from 1 January 1980 to the last date for which figures are available; and how many closures are contemplated for the financial year 1982–83.

[pursuant to his reply, 2 March 1982, c. 129]: Bed closures take place for a variety of reasons, including replacement by new hospital building; developments in medical practice such as increase in day care and shorter length of stay; concentration of facilities to make more effective use of available manpower and financial resources; and population changes. Figures of bed closures alone should not therefore be used as any basis for estimating changes in the level of health care provision in any region.Information on closures is not held centrally in the form requested, but between 1 January 1980 and 31 December 1981 decisions were taken to close permanently hospitals or parts of hospitals which will involve the following number of beds:

Regional Health Authority
Area	Number of beds
Northern	44
Yorkshire	170
Trent	626
East Anglia	60
North West Thames	433
North East Thames	546
South East Thames	244
South West Thames	835
Wessex	402
Oxford	86
South Western	NIL
West Midlands	387
Mersey	499
North Western	159

Not all these closures will yet have taken place.At 31 December 1981, the Department has been notified by area health authorities of proposals to close permanently other hospitals or parts of hospital buildings involving the following number of beds:

Regional Health Authority
Area	Number of beds
Northern	219
Yorkshire	424
Trent	165
East Anglia	NIL
North West Thames	47
North East Thames	208
South East Thames	51
South West Thames	NIL
Wessex	23
Oxford	NIL
South Western	16
West Midlands	67
Mersey	NIL
North Western	NIL

In addition, proposals notified by postgraduate boards of governors involve 53 beds. It is not possible to say when decisions will be taken on these proposals.