§ 32. Mr. Hannanasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the number of welfare homes and the number of beds therein provided by local authorities in the last five years for old folk; and if he will estimate how many beds are still needed.
§ Mr. MillanDuring the last five years, local authorities in Scotland have provided 1,477 places in 40 new homes and four extensions. No firm estimate is at 413 present available of the number of additional places needed, but more than 1,200 places are now under construction or have been approved to start within the next two years.
§ Mr. HannanI appreciate the great progress being made in this field by this Government, but will my hon. Friend take note of the accepted fact that there are still many people in hospitals who could well be discharged into residential accommodation? Will he pursue the programme of providing alternative accommodation to relieve hospitals?
§ Mr. MillanI agree with what my hon. Friend said in the first part of his supplementary question. It is also true that there are some people in residential accommodation who ought to be in hospital accommodation. I am most anxious to improve the amount of residential accommodation because that would improve the overall position in a very desirable way.
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. I remind the House that long questions and long answers mean fewer questions and fewer answers.
§ Mr. Edward Short, statement.
§ Mr. John WellsOn a point of order, Mr. Speaker. As the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has not sought to answer Questions 75 and 76 or the associated unstarred Questions, I give notice that I shall seek to raise the matter on the Adjournment at an early opportunity.
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. Statement, Mr. Edward Short.