asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on the reasons for the delay in the construction of the new hospital planned to serve the Mid-Staffordshire parliamentary constituency and neighbouring constituencies.

My hon. Friend will be aware that the West Midlands regional health authority is responsible for the management of individual building schemes contained in its operational capital programme. However, I understand that work on the new Lichfield/Tamworth district general hospital will commence in July 1989. The adjustment of the starting date arises from a review of the region's £870 million capital programme to ensure that the year-on-year expenditure remains within budget.