§ 7. Mr. Tom Boardmanasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the estimated total cost for 1970–71 of implementing the proposals for the improvement of the long-stay psychiatric and geriatric hospitals which are under the Sheffield Regional Hospital Board.
§ Dr. John DunwoodyMy right hon. Friend is still considering the Board's proposed capital programme for 1970–71.
§ Mr. BoardmanWill not the cost exceed by many times the sum of £100,000 which is all that the Government are providing for these hospitals? Will not that deficiency have to be made up by cutting out other essential capital projects?
§ Dr. DunwoodyIt is true that the board's capital allocation for 1970–71 883 has been increased by £100,000, but we are, as a deliberate act of policy, trying to concentrate more of our resources on psychiatric and geriatric units. As there always will be a limit upon total resources available, this must mean that a smaller proportion will go into other areas of the service. The Sheffield Board has been asked to play its part in providing an extra sum totalling £2 million for the long-stay hospital improvements in the country as a whole.
§ Mr. Maurice MacmillanIs it not true that regional boards generally are so short of money that they cannot provide more of their money for mental hospitals without substantial cuts in other directions? Can the hon. Gentleman tell us to what extent these cuts will be and where they will take place?
§ Dr. DunwoodyI cannot accept what the hon. Member says. I have seen from my own experience regional boards making remarkable efforts to improve the quality and standard of service in hospitals for the mentally ill and the subnormal