§ 34. Mr. Hannanasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has now received the views of all the organisations he consulted in respect of Command Paper No. 9623, relating to mental illness and mental deficiency in Scotland; whether he has now received the report from the Scottish Health Services Council Committee on the same subject; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MaclayI have received comments from most of the organisations consulted, and expect to receive the report from the Scottish Health Services Council very soon. I shall have to consider the views of all these bodies very carefully and I cannot, therefore, make a statement at this stage.
§ Mr. HannanDoes not the right hon. Gentleman realise that this report was expected in February of this year? Since two-fifths of the National Health Service beds in Scotland are in mental hospitals and mental deficiency institutions, is not the urgency of the matter clear to him? Will he do something to hurry up these reports?
§ Mr. MaclayThere are one or two important organisations which have still to convey their views to me. I am hoping to receive them very soon.