§ 19. Mr. Howieasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the local health expenditure on the mentally ill and on the mentally subnormal.
§ Mr. SnowThe net revenue expenditure of local health authorities in England and Wales on mental health services in 951 the year 1967–68 was £21.9 million; for the year 1968–69 it was estimated by local authorities that it would be £25.4 million. These figures include rather over £2 million each year as the apportioned element of general administration cost. In addition, loan sanctions for capital works totalling about £6 million were granted during the year 1967–68, and about £6.1 million during the year 1968–69.
§ Mr. HowieIs my hon. Friend satisfied that that is an adequate proportion of local resources to devote to this important subject?
§ Mr. SnowI think that we are getting near some acceptability in this proportion. In the last five years the revenue expenditure has doubled from about £12½million in 1964–65. Total Revenue expenditure over the last five years amounted to over £93 million compared with about £35 million in the previous five years.