HC Deb 23 January 1978 vol 942 cc488-92W
Mr. Kilroy-Silk

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he has any estimate of the number of young people who are alcoholic or who have drink problems; and what action his Department is taking to deal with the problem.

Mr. Moyle

No reliable estimate is available, but I am seriously concerned about the growing evidence of alcohol abuse, particularly among young people. Prevention depends substantially upon the attitudes of society as a whole, and later this year the Health Departments will be publishing a consultative document to stimulate public debate on a range of preventive measures. Meanwhile the Health Education Council, with financial assistance from my Department, is conducting an experimental campaign in the North-East of England to promote a responsible attitude to alcohol. This is directed partly to young people, and we seek to learn which approaches are the most effective.

Mr. Kilroy-Silk

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his most recent estimate of the number of homeless alcoholics and the current number of hostel places available for alcoholics; if he will give a list, together with the places to be made available in each one, of those hostels that are planned and when they will be in operation; and if he will make a statement on present or future progress.

Mr. Moyle

There is no reliable estimate of the number of homeless alcoholics. 65 hostels for alcoholics with 703 places are supported with capital and/or revenue grant: another hostel to provide 20 places is being proposed and we await the local authority recommendation. Details are given below. There are also two local authority hostels providing 16 places. Voluntary organisations continue to show an interest in this scheme. The Department will consider any proposal where it can be established that there is a need and it is supported by the local authority.

(A) HOSTELS PREVIOUSLY IN THE HOME OFFICE AFTER CARE SCHEME
Organisation Address of Hostel Number of Places
Wayback Foundation Castle Close, Plymouth, Devon 13
Salvation Army Gloucester House, 6 High Street, Highworth.
Swindon, Wiltshire 16
Spitalfields Crypt Trust Christchurch, Spitalfields 19
Downham Lodge, 284 Amhurst Road, N.10 12
Homeless Action and Accommodation. 60 Settle Street, E.l 7
Bow Mission Clapham House, 302 Devons Road, E3 20
Helping Hand Organisation (1) Hartley House, 31 Madeley Road, W.5 12
(2) Giles House, 23 Grove Park, S.E.5 18
(3) Kenmore House, 31/32 Grove Park, S.E.5 10
(4) Richards House, Townley Street, Middleton, Lancs. 8
Birmingham Diocesan Council Prospect Hill House, 18 Wretham Road, Birmingham 10
Royal London Aid Society 1205 London Road, S.W.16 16
Bridgehead Housing Association Elleswick Lodge, Park Road, Newcastle on Tyne 16
Bridgehead (Nottingham) Housing Association. 25 Addison Street, Nottingham 12
Alcoholics Recovery Project (1) Rathcoole House, 2 Ferndale Road, S.W.4 11
(2) 6 Lynette Avenue, S.W.4 7
(3) 12 Cranmer Road, S.W.9 (replaced by 6 places at 35 Camberwell New Road, S.E.5) 4
Oxford and District Council on 81 Cowley Road, Oxford 5
Alcoholism. 195 Iffley Road, Oxford 9
Society of St. Dismas St. Aubyns House, 30/32 Cranbury Avenue,Southampton. 14
Hampshire Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders. 35 Leigh Road, Eastleigh, Hants 9
248

(B) HOSTELS SUPPORTED SINCE 1ST APRIL 1973
Organisation Address of Hostel Number of Places
St. Anne's Shelter and Housing Action Ltd. 40 Kelso Road, Leeds 12
16 Kendal Lane, Leeds 4
St. Marks House, 186 Woodhouse Lane, Leeds 20
2 Hillcrest Avenue, Leeds 8
3 Inglewood Terrace, Leeds 9
114 Markham Avenue, Leeds 4
Alcoholics Recovery Project 39 Haselrigge Road, S.W.4 6
6 Lynette Avenue, S.W.4 7
19 Cavendish Road, S.W.4 8
51 Rosenthal Road, S.E.6 10
105 Howson Road, S.E.4 6
35 Camberwell New Road, S.E.5 (replacement for 4 places at Cranmer Road) 6
Helping Hand Organisation 4 Glevelands Road, Prestwich 12
63 Whitstable Road, Canterbury 12
Miliken House, 116 Argyle Road, Ealing, W.13 7
27 Hoole Road, Chester 12
4 Edward Street, Oldham 12
Allen House Charity Allen House, 112 Aldwick Road, Bognor Regis, Sussex. 10
Hampshire Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders. 38/40 Leigh Road, Eastleigh, Hants. 16
Church Army 23 Plymouth Grove, Manchester 6
172 Plymouth Grove, Manchester 10
Birmingham Diocesan Council Prospect Hill House, 20 Wretham Road, Birmingham 10
Avon Council on Alcoholism 21 Tyndalls Park Road, Bristol 21
Fairmeadow Hostel Committee 10/11 Fairmeadow, Maidstone, Kent 14
Scunthorpe Committee for Alcoholism. 6 Old Crosby, Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire 7
Hastings Hostel Ltd 25, 27, 29 Lower Hastings Street, Leicester 17
Anac House Project 4 Meriden Street, Coventry 9
Kenward Trust Kenward House, Yalding, Kent 10

Organisation Address of Hostel Number of Places
Westminster Advisory Centre on Alcoholism. 12 Aldrington Road, S.W.16 9
Thamesdown North Wilts Council on Alcoholism. Touchdown Guest House, Wooton Basset, Wilts. 20
Devon Council on Alcoholism Arden House, Union Road, Crediton 13
Aquarius Pebble Mill House, Bristol Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham 15
1 Connaught Road, Wolverhampton 13
4 St. Georges Street, Northampton 10
Salvation Army Booth House Detoxification Unit, Whitechapel Road, E.l 11
Alcoholic Assessment Unit, Garford Street, E.4 20
Alcoholic Wing, William Booth House, Great Passage Street, Hull 10
Society of St. Dismas 3 Cranbury Avenue, Southampton 8
Bow Mission Clapham House Annexe, 302A Devons Road, E.3 24
1 Merchant Street, E.3 24
24 and 172 Burdett Road, E.3 24
Spelthorne St. Mary 55 Milton Road, Harpenden, Herts 17
455
(C) HOSTEL PROPOSED
Organisation Address of Hostel Number of Places
Merseyside, Lancashire and Cheshire Council on Alcoholism. 46 Ullet Road, Liverpool 20

Mr. Kilroy-Silk

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many detoxification units are now in operation; where are they located; how many individuals each has treated; what other units are planned; and when these will come into operation.

Mr. Moyle

Two; one each at Leeds and Manchester respectively. Up to 31st December 1977, the Leeds centre has admitted 498 individuals. The Manchester centre, opened in November 1977, had admitted 37. A third centre in London is expected to open later this year. Detoxi

Health District Hospital Urgent Cases Non-urgent Cases
Canterbury and Thanet Kent and Canterbury Normally no delay 13–17 weeks
Faversham Cottage 14 weeks
Queen Victoria Memorial. 1 20 weeks
Isle of Thanet District:
Ramsgate Wing 6 weeks
Margate Wing 12 weeks
Dartford and Gravesham West Hill*:
Consultant A 8 weeks Children: 9 weeks
Adults: 24 weeks
Consultant B 4 weeks 19 weeks
Consultant C Normally no delay 16 weeks
(Special orthopaedic hand clinic—2 weeks)
Gravesend and North Kent:
Consultant A 3 weeks 7 weeks
Consultant B 2 weeks 8 weeks
Maidstone West Kent General About 27 weeks
Preston Hall 1 week 16 weeks

fication is carried out in many general and psychiatric hospitals as part of their normal work and by some voluntary bodies.