§ 19. Mr. Braineasked the Minister of Health how many mental defectives in Essex under and over the age of 16 years, respectively, are now registered as being in need of residential care; whether these figures represent an increase or decrease compared with those for previous years; and what steps are being taken to provide the necessary accommodation.
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry, of Health (Mr. Richard Thompson)At the end of 1958, 136 mental defectives under sixteen and 158 aged sixteen or over were reported by the Essex County Council as in need of hospital care. These figures represent a decrease compared with previous years for those under sixteen but an increase for those of sixteen or over. The regional hospital board has
§ very low. The national rate is between I and 1½ per 100,000 of population.