§ 50. Mr. G. M. Thomsonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many patients with criminal tendencies are housed in Scottish mental and mental deficiency hospitals.
§ Mr. J. StuartIt would be difficult to estimate the number of patients with criminal tendencies, but I shall send the hon. Member a statement of the numbers detained by order of the court under the Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act, 1949.
§ Mr. ThomsonIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that this practice is very undesirable, and is making it increasingly difficult to get adequate staff for many of these institutions? Will he look at this matter again very closely to see whether patients in this category could be transferred to a place in which they could be segregated in conditions appropriate to their circumstances?
§ Mr. StuartI shall be glad to look into the point, but these people have to be stationed or located somewhere; and it is only those who have actually been detained by order of the court of whom I have knowledge.