HC Deb 08 December 1958 vol 597 cc4-5
37. Mr. Blenkinsop

asked the Minister of Health what additional local authority expenditure on mental health and welfare services has been approved for 1959–60 and 1960–61.

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Health (Mr. Richard Thompson)

Included in the figures of relevant expenditure taken into consideration in fixing the proposed totals of general grant for the first grant period are estimated amounts for these services of over £900,000 for 1959–60 and over£1¾ million for 1960–61 above the estimated figures for 1958–59.

Mr. Blenkinsop

Does the hon. Gentleman feel that these figures will make any kind of start possible in developing local authority services to provide for the number of cases which will, we hope, be able to come out of mental hospitals and deficiency institutions?

Mr. Thompson

Indeed, I do. It is estimated that the rate of development for which these increases provide in each year is about two and a half times the annual development rate achieved in recent years. I think that that is sensible progress.

Mr. Blenkinsop

As the Parliamentary Secretary knows, during the last few years there has been hardly any development at all. Why on earth should he try to confuse the House by talking about two and a half times the rate of increase when we all know that the rate of recent increase has been neglible?

Mr. Thompson

I cannot accept that what is now spent on these services is negligible, and I should have thought that a rate two and a half times greater is considerable by any standards.