§ Mr. Charles Irvingasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department in how many cases, where patients have been conditionally discharged from hospital under the Mental Health Act, his Department is no longer receiving regular reports on the patient's condition or progress.
§ Mr. BrittanA total of 2,084 patients have been discharged conditionally from hospital since the Mental Health Act 1959 came into force. The Department no longer receives regular reports in respect of those whose conditions of supervision have been discontinued. I regret that there is no available figure for the total number of living patients in this category. The figure is not required for any operational purpose and any attempt to provide it would involve disproportionate cost.