HC Deb 12 July 1973 vol 859 cc427-8W
Mr. Mayhew

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what progress has been made by hospital boards since the publication of Cmnd. 4683/1971 in providing new, more homely accommodation in small units for mentally handicapped children.

Sir K. Joseph

Since June 1971, regional hospital boards have provided 744 beds for mentally handicapped children either by new building, conversion or upgrading. In addition 273 beds are in the course of construction or conversion and a further 1,513 are presently planned. All this accommodation has been designed to provide homely accommodation for smaller groups of children than hitherto.

Mr. Mayhew

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many consultants—whole-time equivalent—were employed in hospitals for the mentally handicapped in 1962 and 1972; and what proposals he has relating to their number.

Sir K. Joseph

The number of consultants in mental handicap, in whole-time equivalents, including locums, rose from 74 in 1962 to 130 in 1972; seven new posts were approved for 1973–74; 16 are proposed for 1974–75; and nine provisionally proposed for 1975–76.