§ 22. Mr. Sydney Irvingasked the Minister of Health how many local health authorities provide hostels for adult persons who are either mentally subnormal or who have been mentally ill but who are now able to leave hospital; how many hostels are so provided; for what numbers they cater; and what proposals exist for increasing this provision.
§ Mr. BraineThirty-two — [Interruption.] —32, 35 and 692. The building programmes of local authorities up to April, 1964, include a further 155 homes with 4,447 places.
§ Mr. IrvingDoes not the hon. Gentleman accept that 'this is a very disappointing rate of progress? As the objectives of the Mental Health Act, 1959, can never be fully realised without a big expansion of this type of provision, will he say what steps he is taking to encourage local authorities, by financial support and otherwise, to extend this service?
§ Mr. BraineOwing possibly to the confusion at the beginning of my Answer to this Question, the hon. Member may not have realised what I said. The building programme for next year includes a further 155 homes and 4,447 places. This is striking evidence of increasing progress being made.
§ Mr. IrvingWhile accepting that this is 'an improvement, does it not merely indicate the deplorably bad rate of progress which we have had in the past? Does it not show that in future we must expand much more than this if we are to meet the needs?
§ Mr. BraineThe hon. Member has not got the picture at all. It may be that he is thinking of some circumstance in his own area. If he will be kind enough to gives me the details. I will certainly look into it.