§ 51. Mr. Mayhewasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many mentally subnormal people are now receiving residential care in local authority homes and hostels.
§ Dr. John Dunwoody:The most recent figures available show that at 31st December, 1968, there were 3,492 mentally handicapped persons in England and Wales receiving residential care in local authority homes and hostels.
§ 57. Dame Irene Wardasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether 208W he will take action to ensure that pocket money permissible to patients in hospitals is arranged in mental hospitals so as to ensure that mentally sick patients are as effectively treated in this respect as patients in general hospitals.
§ Mr. Crossman:The solution of the problem which the hon. Lady has in mind presents difficulties. I am confident, however, that they will shortly be overcome.
§ 74. Mr. Staintonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what were the number of detainees under Section 29 of the Mental Health Act 1959, in 1968 and 1969, respectively; and in how many cases were hospital orders made.
§ Mr. Crossman:15,011 patients were admitted under Section 29 in England in 1968, and 14,705 in 1969. Of these, 6,541 in 1968 and 6,290 in 1969 subsequently stayed in hospital not subject to detention; 8,216 in 1968 and 8,157 in 1969 were detained for further observation under Section 25; 118 in 1968 and 129 in 1969 were admitted for treatment under Section 26 immediately following their detention under Section 29. Information is not available about the number detained under Section 26 after a period of observation under Section 25. The 1969 figures are provisional.
§ 75. Mr. Staintonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services under what regulation and in what form a patient detained under Section 29 of the Mental Health Act 1959 and his next-of-kin are informed in cases where no hospital order is made.
§ Dr. John Dunwoody:There is no such regulation or prescribed form.