§ Mr. Moonmanasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she will consider financially assisting more voluntary organisations in view of the problems of mental illness.
§ Dr. OwenI am always ready to consider requests for help from organisations, other than those which are local in scope, where their activities will help to promote improvements in services to the mentally ill, or the prevention of mental illness. Help for local projects should normally be sought from the appropriate local authorities or area health authorities.
§ Mr. Moonmanasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how much money is spent on the mentally ill; and what proportion of this is spent on adolescents.
§ Dr. OwenIt is estimated that in England in 1972–73 some 13 per cent. of hospital service revenue expenditure was spent on services for the mentally ill; this amounted to a little under £200 million at November 1973 prices. Other health expenditure and personal social service expenditure on mental illness cannot be separately identified, and the proportion of hospital expenditure on mentally ill adolescents is also unknown.
I regret that the answer which I gave to my hon. Friend on 24th June was incorrect in referring to health service expenditure instead of hospital service revenue expenditure.
§ Mr. Jesselasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she will take steps to provide increased facilities in the Twickenham constituency for the mentally handicapped and the severely subnormal after they leave school.
§ Dr. OwenThe London borough of Richmond has submitted proposals for a new 130-place adult training centre within the constituency and also for a 24-place home for mentally handicapped adults. I hope it will be possible to give approval for these projects during the next financial year.
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§ Mr. Moonmanasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she will issue guidelines to local authorities on the subject of community care services for the mentally ill.
§ Dr. OwenTentative guidelines were issued in Circular 35/72. The forthcoming White Paper on services for the mentally ill will set out the Government's strategy for the development of a comprehensive pattern of health and social services. It is hoped to follow this with more detailed guidance to local authorities on specific aspects.