§ 12. Mr. Ellisasked the Secretary of State for Wales what arrangements he makes for the boarding out to private persons of mentally handicapped persons in Wales.
§ Mr. Peter ThomasNone. County and county borough councils are required to consider boarding out arrangements as part of their general responsibility to provide, where necessary, residential accommodation in the community for mentally handicapped persons.
§ Mr. EllisIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that growing disquiet is felt in some parts of Wales at the practice that is growing up of boarding out mentally handicapped people, and that commercial practices may be growing up in the reception of these mentally handicapped people by private persons? Can the Minister assure that House that he will take steps to see that no bad commercial practices are adopted in this matter?
§ Mr. Peter ThomasThe problem has arisen mainly because of the boarding out of the mentally ill. It is a matter that I am fully aware of. I am happy to say that in certain areas where complaints were made it appears that something is being done in this respect.
§ 13. Mr. Ellisasked the Secretary of State for Wales how many mentally handicapped persons have been discharged from mental hospitals in Wales each year for the past 10 years.
§ Mr. Peter ThomasWith permission, I will circulate the figures in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Mr. EllisI thank the Minister for his reply, and appreciate that I have not had an opportunity of seeing the figures, but can he assure the House that there is no question of hospital authorities adopting a policy of the lesser of two evils and discharging people from hospitals that are overcrowded, thereby palming off their responsibilities to private people who act as recipients of mentally handicapped people?
§ Mr. Peter ThomasAt the moment local health and hospital authorities are co-operating very well in the examination of this problem.
§ Mr. William EdwardsIs the Minister aware that some disquiet exists in the health service in Wales at the fact that mental hospitals are evading their responsibilities and placing an additional burden upon the already overburdened geriatric service by the practice of discharging old mentally ill people and then trying to find places for them in geriatric units which are now overcrowded?
§ Mr. Peter ThomasThis is a complicated matter. The increase in the number of discharges in the last three years is attributable to the change of attitude 12 towards the treatment of mental illness. It is felt that every effort should be made to prevent prolonged hospitalisation and that it is better for people to be discharged in accordance with a policy of short stay and readmission if necessary.
§ Following is the information:
| 1960 | 1961 | 1962 | 1963 | 1964 |
| 356 | 497 | 518 | 484 | 500 |
| 1965 | 1966 | 1967 | 1968 | 1969 |
| 521 | 589 | 747 | 602 | 493 |