§ Mr. Evelyn Kingasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will state the total amounts paid out by way of social security benefits or National Assistance during each of the last six years.
§ Mr. SwinglerThe amounts are as follows:
hospitals and, where necessary, to draw up programmes, in consultation with the medical and nursing staff, with the object of ensuring that by 1971 children are nursed only in children's wards and departments and not in adult wards.
A census taken in 1965 showed that 18 per cent of the children under 12 years of age in these hospitals were then being nursed in adult wards. My right hon. Friend considers that much can be done within the limits of the accommodation available to achieve the aim of grouping all children in wards and departments adapted to the special needs of children.
Hospital authorities are also being advised that adolescents should, where practicable, be accommodated together and neither with children nor with adults.