§ Mr. Oakesasked the Minister of Health what is the average weekly cost of food per patient in mental hospitals; how this figure compares with similar costs two, five and 10 years ago, respectively; and how this figure compares with the cost of food per patient in general hospitals.
§ Mr. K. RobinsonI regret that figures for patients separately are not available, but the average weekly costs of provisions for both patients and staff in Regional Hospital Board hospitals in England and Wales for 1966–67 were:
Mental illness hospitals £1 8s. 3d. Mental subnormality hospitals £1 4s. 5d. All other hospitals £1 13s. 4d. Similar information is not available for earlier years.