§ 7. Mr. Moonmanasked the Secretary of State for Social Services in view of the fact that environmental conditions influence mental breakdowns, in particular relapses, what plans he has for special resources to be applied to the depressed areas.
§ 8. Mr. Hamlingasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will seek to provide special financial help for those areas with greatly above average incidence of mental illness.
§ Mr. CrossmanAs my hon. Friends know, rate support grant is distributed by reference to factors which reflect the needs and resources of different areas. In addition, grants can now be made to local authorities under the urban programme towards approved expenditure in urban areas of special social needs.
§ Mr. MoonmanRecent figures show that East London has a higher national average of mental sickness. Has my right hon. Friend considered certain studies in other distressed areas in large cities like Liverpool, Manchester, Birmingham and Glasgow?
§ Mr. CrossmanYes. A lot of research and investigation is going on. I should again point out that the urban programme gives us power to concentrate on black spots.
§ Mr. DeanDoes the right hon. Gentleman recollect that on 27th March he said that there would be a reallocation of resources for mental health services? Can he say what results have been achieved?
§ Mr. CrossmanI said that it was not only for mental health but mainly for long-stay hospitals and hospitals for the mentally subnormal. I am meeting the regional hospital board chairmen. I gave them until their July meeting. I said that I would meet them then and see what they had achieved in this period. That meeting will take place in the near future.