Mr. Haslehurstasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how much money has been allocated by the Government for use in psychiatric hospitals.
§ Mr. AlisonMoney is not generally allocated centrally for psychiatric hospitals. Revenue allocations to management committees are made by regional hospital boards and these boards are also primarily responsible for assessing priorities for capital expenditure. Revenue expenditure in National Health Service psychiatric hospitals in 1970–71 amounted to £162.3 million and capital expenditure to £15.1 million. Following the announcement last year of extra money for the National Health Service over the four years to 1974–75, boards were asked to give special priority to psychiatric and geriatric services. In the current year, £3½ million of capital has been specifically allocated for additional expenditure on these services and £3½ million of revenue for improved hospital services for the mentally handicapped.