§ 79. Mr. FREEMANasked the Minister of Health the number of married men and women in mental homes, institutions, or under private control; and the number under control for a period of five years or over?
§ Mr. GREENWOODI would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given yesterday to a similar question put by my hon. Friend the Member for Leyton, West (Mr. Sorensen).
§ 83. Mr. SORENSENasked the Minister of Health the number of local authorities who have complained of unnecessary and prolonged delay in the sanctioning of plans for new buildings submitted to the Board of Control?
§ Mr. GREENWOODRepresentations by local authorities that matters should be promptly dealt with are frequently made to the Board of Control and other Departments concerned in local government, but I have no precise figure of the number of representations to the Board of Control of the character indicated in the question. I am satisfied that such delay as may have occurred in the past has been partly attributable to the inadequate number of the professional staff concerned. This staff has recently been strengthened, and my hon. Friend is aware that the Mental Treatment Bill contains proposals for the reorganisation of the Board one of the objects of which is to facilitate its operations.
§ Mr. SORENSENIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that more than one public authority of this description has complained several times to the Board of Control of undue delay, and that, as a result, many patients in mental hospitals are actually sleeping on the floor?
§ Mr. GREENWOODI cannot be responsible for complaints which were made in the past. My reply is that under the Mental Treatment Bill we shall get a re-organisation whereby delays will be avoided.