HL Deb 08 April 1971 vol 317 cc408-9

11.12 a.m.

BARONESS SEROTA

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether arrangements have now been made for the Supplementary Benefits Commission to provide pocket money to patients in hospitals for the mentally ill and the mentally handicapped as they do in all other hospitals for all patients who are eligible, including the mentally ill and the mentally handicapped.]

LORD ABERDARE

My Lords, my right honourable friend the Secretary of of State for Social Services is considering whether it is possible to provide the additional money and manpower which will be necessary before the Commision could be expected to accept this additional responsibility. Meanwhile the hospital authorities concerned continue to discharge this function.

BARONESS SEROTA

My Lords, I am greatly encouraged by that reply. May I ask the noble Lord whether he agrees that the perpetuation of this longstanding anomaly is a grave injustice to patients in our long-stay hospitals? Would he consider, together with his right honourable friend, the possibility of introducing a change in selected areas where perhaps the burdens are not quite so heavy on members of the staff of his Department?

LORD ABERDARE

My Lords, I am grateful to the noble Baroness. I think we all recognise that there are anomalies here. The Supplementary Benefits Commission have asked that any new schemes should be introduced progressively, and therefore the second point raised by the noble Baroness would, I think, he covered in any case.

LORD AMULREE

My Lords, is it not the case that when the Mental Health Act 1959 was passed it was intended that patients in mental hospitals should be treated in exactly the same way as patients in general hospitals?

LORD ABERDARE

Yes, my Lords. That is why we are trying to put this right.

LORD SEGAL

My Lords, in the case of the mentally handicapped, do not the Government recognise that an important principle is involved, as the mentally handicapped can accept advice as to the disbursement of any sums placed to their credit simply as a part of an aid to their education?

LORD ABERDARE

Yes, my Lords, I appreciate that.