§ Mr. Doddsasked the Minister of Health what progress has been made in reducing the lengthy periods during which mental defectives have normally been called upon to remain on licence when returned to the community; and what action is being taken to get rid of the condition forbidding any association with a member of the opposite sex during the period of licence.
§ Mr. Walker-SmithIn 1956, hospitals were told that, save in exceptional circumstances, it should not be necessary for the period of licence to exceed 12 months. Information about the average length of licence is not available; but at the end of 1957 only 2,903 patients were on licence, compared with 4,493 at the end of 1955.
The condition referred to in the second part of the Question is included in Form L of the Schedule to the Mental Deficiency Regulations, 1948, but can be modified at the discretion of the Superintendent and two members of the committee of management.