To ask the Secretary of State for Health what criteria were used to reach the recent decision to postpone the building of a children’s and maternity hospital in Leeds; and whether she was directly consulted during the process leading up to the decision. (134037)

The national health service in Leeds is committed to providing the highest-quality services, including children’s and maternity services, for the people it serves.

No decision has been made on any part of the Making Leeds Better proposals. The entire health community remains committed to finding a workable solution to improve children’s and maternity services in Leeds.

Yorkshire and the Humber strategic health authority (SHA) has asked Leeds primary care trust (PCT) to review concerns about affordability and to examine all the options available for children’s and maternity services in Leeds. The PCT will present a full project plan to the SHA at the end of April.