HC Deb 12 May 1976 vol 911 cc440-1
9. Mr. Rifkind

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will make a statement on the provision of hospital services for the mentally handicapped in Scotland over the next five years.

Mr.HarryEwing

The memorandum "The Health Service in Scotland—The Way Ahead" drew attention among other things to the need for improvements in hospital and community health services for the mentally handicapped in the next four years. I have no doubt that health boards will take full account of the principles in the memorandum in deciding how to meet the needs of their areas.

Mr. Rifkind

Does the Minister realise that nine out of every 10 beds for the mentally handicapped in Scotland are in hospitals built in the reign of Queen Victoria? Does he realise that we could deal with that problem without increasing public expenditure if the Government withdrew their legislation to abolish pay beds? That legislation is totally irrelevant to the needs of Scotland and will cost £40 million every year.

Mr. Ewing

The hon. Gentleman should get this matter into its proper perspective. The amount that we take from pay beds in Scotland in terms of annual income is almost nil compared with the National Health Service expenditure.

Mr. Rifkind

Half a million pounds.

Mr. Ewing

Half a million pounds will hardly cure the problems which were created in the reign of Queen Victoria. The problem has grown over the years, particularly as the Conservative Government concentrated resources on the acute services rather than long-stay patients. This Government have now told the health boards to take greater account of the needs of long-stay patients. We have every confidence that the health boards will heed our request.