HC Deb 12 March 1956 vol 550 cc9-11
21. Mr. Collins

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that the average daily cost of each patient's food in 1954–55 in the south-west regional area was 2s. 5d. in mental hospitals and 2s. 3d. in mental deficiency institutions; that these are the same daily sums as in 1951–52, when food prices were 23 per cent. lower and when the money spent was barely sufficient for a balanced and adequate diet; if he is satisfied that the present sums spent on food are sufficient for health; and if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a chart showing the break-up, between various types of food, of the average daily expenditure in mental hospitals and mental deficiency establishments, respectively, in 1952–53 and 1954–55.

Mr. Turton

I do not accept the assumption the hon. Member makes in the second part of this Question. The figures quoted for 1954–55 represent the average daily cost of food per person fed. Comparable figures for 1951–52 were not produced under the costing arrangements in force at the time but they are estimated to have been 1s. 11d. for mental hospitals and 1s. 9d. for mental deficiency institutions, or 21 per cent. and 22 per cent. respectively below 1954–55. As regards the third part of the Question, I attach great importance to improving the standard of catering at many mental and mental deficiency hospitals, and I am making provision for an improvement in the diets at these hospitals during the coming financial year, in the letters recently sent to regional boards notifying them of their financial allocations for 1956–57. The information called for in the last part of the Question is not available.

Mr. Collins

But if the information called for in the last part of the Question is not available, how is the Minister in a position to say that he is satisfied that patients in mental hospitals and mental deficiency hospitals are in fact getting a sufficiently balanced and adequate diet? How can the diet be balanced if the figures asked for are not available? Is the right hon. Gentleman further aware that in the South-West Regional Hospital Board area the figures are available? Finally, can he say to what extent, either in percentage or in some other way, he is proposing to split up allocations of the additional funds for the diet of patients in mental hospitals?

Mr. Turton

I do not know what the hon. Gentleman means when he says that the figures are available. He asked for a chart and I said that that particular detailed chart was not available. I have said that I am not entirely satisfied with the diet in mental hospitals, otherwise I should not have been writing to regional hospital boards giving them extra money for improvements in the diet.

Mr. Collins

Can the Minister say what amount of extra money is being given and how much they are at present deficient?

Mr. Turton

I am making provision which will amount in all to an extra £500,000.

Mr. Blenkinsop

I welcome the announcement by the Minister that he is anxious to take further action about diets. May I ask whether he would not agree that one of the reasons is the continued pressure on mental hospital management committees to reduce their expenditure? Will not the Minister therefore strive to increase the general financial allocations for these hospitals?

Mr. Turton

I do not know what the hon. Member is referring to. There has been no pressure on mental or mental deficiency hospitals to reduce their scale of expenditure—not since 1951.