§ Mr. Alexanderasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many mentally handicapped patients at Balder-ton hospital absconded in the last 12 months, including those who did so for a few hours only; what are the average and longest periods of time that any patient: has been missing; and whether there is an increase in the number of patients who have absconded in the past few years.
§ Sir George Young[pursuant to his reply,3 April 1980, c.400–401]: Fifty-four patients at Balderton hospital went missing during the past 12 months. Five of those patients were detained under the Mental Health Act. The average period during which patients were missing was six hours and the longest period was eight days. During the previous 12 months, 31 patients had gone missing.