To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 27 February 2007, Official Report, column 1291W, on maternity services, what information is available on the number of maternity units in (a) 1997 and (b) 2001. (129887)

Data derived from Hospital Episode Statistics show that for 1997 there were 213 hospital trusts providing maternity services and 192 in 2001. Most trusts have one principal hospital site with delivery facilities and the majority of deliveries are reported through that main hospital trust. Any decrease in the number of units is likely to be due to reconfiguration of national health service trusts without any decrease in the number of hospitals, wards and birthing centres offering services.