HC Deb 05 June 1967 vol 747 cc126-7W
Dr. Winstanley

asked the Minister of Health what was the number of hostel places for sub-normal adults provided by local authorities in England and Wales at the latest convenient date.

Mr. K. Robinson

At 31st December 1966 local authorities had 2,025 places in their own hostels and a further 716 places in homes provided by other organisations.

Mr. Moonman

asked the Minister of Health how many hostel places for the mentally sub-normal in both junior and senior categories are to be made available by local health authorities in the course of the next 10 years; and if he is satisfied that this figure will be sufficient to meet the need.

Mr. K. Robinson

Local authorities' development plans provide for 2,706 places in hostels for mentally sub-normal children and 8,854 places in hostels for mentally sub-normal adults by 1976. This is an expanding service and the full extent of the need for this form of residential care cannot yet be determined, but I would expect planned provision to increase.