To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the proposals from health boards for local hospital closures which he has confirmed, since 1979, where the application has been accompanied by a generally favourable assessment of the hospital by the Scottish Hospital Advisory Service; and if he will make a statement.

Health boards are responsible for assessing need, for purchasing services to meet the needs they identify and to set and monitor standards. It is for each board to decide how best to discharge those responsibilities and what factors to take into account in doing so.