HC Deb 30 January 1980 vol 977 cc653-4W
Mr. Henderson

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will seek to give powers to local authorities to collect family allowances for children taken into care as is done for pensions of pensioners in local authority homes for the elderly.

Mr. D. E. Thomas

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many of the patients currently detained in each of the special hospitals in Wales are in the following age groups (a) less than 12 years of age, (b) 12 to 14 years, (c) 14 to 16 years, (d) 16 to 18 years, (e) 18 to 21 years, (f) 21 to 65 years, (g) 65 to 75 years and (h) more than 75 years of age.

Mr. Wyn Roberts

There are no special hospitals in Wales.

Mr. D. E. Thomas

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will take steps to reduce the length of time between the receipt of a patient's application for or reference to a mental health review tribunal and the date of the hearing.

Mr. Wyn Roberts

Waiting times in Wales over the past three years have been as follows:

Mrs. Chalker

No. The cases are different. Child benefit is intended to help families with the keep of a dependent child and entitlement to child benefit ceases after a child has been in care for eight weeks. When the local authority assumes responsibility for a child by taking it into care, the central Government contribution towards local government expenditure is through the rate support arrangements. By contrast, a State retirement pension belongs to the pensioner, although arrangements may be made for the pension to be cashed by someone else for him.