HC Deb 09 February 1970 vol 795 cc887-9
14. Dame Irene Ward

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will publish the reports on conditions in mental hospitals submitted to him by the regional hospital boards.

Mr. Crossman

The reports were prepared for discussion at the regular meetings which I have with chairmen of regional hospital boards; such papers are not intended for publication and I do not think it right to make an exception in this case.

Dame Irene Ward

Since the country is very disturbed at the conditions in mental hospitals and, in view of the great interest of the House, is it not possible, even if it were not intended to publish these papers, for the Minister to change his mind, otherwise it only adds to the feeling that we are not being told the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth?

Mr. Crossman

I am surprised and somewhat disconcerted at the hon. Lady's—

Dame Irene Ward

You are always surprised with me.

Mr. Crossman

—accusations that I am not willing to change my mind from time to time, but I will bear in mind her point about publication of the reports. I am surprised that the House should feel that I as Secretary of State would be reluctant to publish facts about these hospitals. But that is very different from my agreeing that at my monthly meetings every word said to me by regional hospital boards automatically should be published. I could not possibly agree to that. I suggest that we might continue this discussion on Wednesday afternoon.

Lord Balniel

But I should like to ask a question now. What conceivable purpose is there in calling for a report on conditions in the long-stay hospitals and not making it available to the public? Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that this gives the impression that the matter is being hushed up, and that this is contrary to the wishes of nursing staff, the medical profession and certainly contrary to public interest.

Mr. Crossman

I should have thought that the last three statements were quite untrue, and above all in regard to the nursing staff. I should not have thought that the nursing staff engaged in the sub-normal hospitals would want a succession of monthly "latest reports" on exactly what has been collected that month. I am now at work preparing a serious presentation of a document for the House on this grievous problem in which all the facts will be published. The idea that we should publish this month by month in serial form is too vulgar to be considered.