§ 31. Mr. Michael McNair-Wilsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will initiate a survey into the number of homeless mentally sick people in the London area.
§ Mr. EnnalsIt would not be practicable to do precisely what the hon. Member is suggesting. But I have recently asked the Institute of Psychiatry to carry out research into the problems of homeless men passing through the Camberwell Reception Centre. The results should be useful in deciding what more can be done to help homeless mentally sick people.
§ Mr. McNair-WilsonIs the hon. Gentleman aware that it is estimated that about one-third of patients discharged in the London area have no homes to go to? Many go to reception centres, but at the moment these centres have no psychiatrically trained workers. Is not this, therefore, the first priority?
§ Mr. EnnalsWe are considering whether there is any wider research that we can do into the question of homeless people, but I think that we shall discover a great deal from the research that is being conducted now. It is being done by a psychiatrist and a social worker. The number passing through the Camberwell Centre is substantial, and I hope 818 that a lot of light will be thrown on the problem as a result of this research.