To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what limits have been placed on the number of coronary angiogram procedures which can be performed each week in the Royal group of hospitals; and what effect these are having on the volume of candidates being considered for coronary artery bypass grafting.

Cardiologists at the Royal group of hospitals treat patients on the basis of clinical need. The present capacity of the coronary catheterisation unit at the Royal group of hospitals, which performs coronary angiograms, is being fully utilised. No artificial restrictions have been placed on the number of procedures performed.