Hilda Lewis House

16.

Mr. Canavan
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions he has had about the proposed closure of Hilda Lewis house; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Dorrell
The Bethlem Royal hospital and the Maudsley hospital special health authority has decided to restructure the services for children with both learning difficulties and behavioural problems which it currently provides at Hilda Lewis house. This will better enable the authority to fulfil its key role in postgraduate research and teaching. The authority is best placed to make this kind of decision about its strategic priorities, which it has also discussed with the NHS management executive.