§ Mr. Alfred Morrisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) in view of the disparity between staffing ratios in long stay hospital wards for handicapped children and those obtaining in local authority children's homes, what action he proposes;
(2) in view of the fact that despite his Department's memoranda, and the comments of the Hospital Advisory Service, 261W many children in long-stay wards are still cared for in over-crowded conditions, if he will issue directions for a building programme of adaptation and upgrading to provide for the 6,000 such children who will need permanent hospital care.
§ Mr. Astorasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) in view of the difference in staffing ratios in long-stay hospital wards for handicapped children, and local authority children's homes, if he will take steps to eliminate the disparity;
(2) in view of the conditions to which children in long-stay wards are still subject despite his Department's recommendations and the views of the hospital advisory service, if he will give directions for a building programme to upgrade the accommodation needed for the 6,000 children in need of permanent hospital care.
1966–67 1967–68 1968–69 1969–70 1970–71 £,000 £,000 £,000 £,000 £,000 Hospital capital expenditure in Manchester … 1,848.4 2,713.8 3,259.7 3.865.4 3,843.4 Loan sanction in respect of local authority health schemes … … … … 9.3 — — 194.1 19.0