§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he is satisfied that there are enough hostel places for women who are receiving treatment for alcoholism:
(2) how many hostel places there are in London for women who are recovering after treatment for alcoholism;
(3) what financial support he is presently providing for voluntary organisations providing hostels and other facilities for treating women alcoholics;
(4) if he is satisfied with the level of local authority support for half-way hostels for recovering alcoholic women; and if he will take steps to encourage further support.
§ Mr. Geoffrey FinsbergLocal needs are best assessed by the local statutory authorities who are well placed to decide how to meet them. Information about numbers of hostel places, whether for men or for women, and occupancy rates, is not maintained centrally.
Under the Department's pump-priming scheme initiated in 1973 grants were paid to 71 hostels for problem drinkers, 24 of them in London. As announced by my hon. Friend the Member for Ealing, Acton (Sir G. Young) on 19 December 1979—[Vol. 976, c. 273]—this scheme is being phased out although some grants will run until 1986. The voluntary organisations managing all 57 hostels whose grants have ceased, have negotiated alternative, local arrangements for continued support.
The Department also provides limited pump-priming grants to statutory and voluntary agencies to help the development of a range of services for problem drinkers generally.
1979–1980 † 1980–1981* Ambulance Service Numbers of patients carried Cost per patient £ Cost per mile £ Numbers of patients carried Cost per patient £ Cost per mile £ Buckinghamshire 18,333 2.40 0.17 18,025 2.54 0.18 Berkshire 55,291 2.05 0.16 51,785 2.21 0.18 Oxfordshire 82,851 1.34 0.19 79,029 1.38 0.16 Hampshire 272,443 1.62 0 .17 218,274 1.66 0.16 Surrey 224,834 1.43 0.17 199,975 1.54 0.18