To ask the Secretary of State for Health when St. Mary's Hospital, Stannington, Northumberland, closed; what the cost of maintaining and securing the buildings and grounds of the hospital was in each of the last five years; and what steps she plans to take to expedite the disposal of the hospital estate. (76202)

St. Mary's Hospital, Stannington, which forms part of the Secretary of State for Health's residual estate, closed in 1996.

The cost of security and maintenance, to ensure that the intrinsic value of the buildings on the site is maintained, in each of the last five years is:

The site has been sold, subject to planning consent being granted. The prospective purchaser's planning application was refused on appeal in May 2006. Options that will achieve an early sale are currently being considered.