HC Deb 21 June 1974 vol 875 cc303-4W
Mr. Christopher Mayhew

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) why she does not expect to give sanction in 1974–75 to Greenwich Borough Council's project for a hostel for the mentally ill;

(2) why she does not expect to sanction the project of the Greenwich Borough Council for a hostel for the mentally handicapped which would raise from 17 per cent. to 33 per cent. the council's achievement of her Department's own target figure;

(3) why she does not expect to sanction the Greenwich Borough Council's project for 1975–76 for an old people's home at Woolwich Common;

(4) why she does not expect to sanction the Greenwich Borough Council's project in 1975–76 for a day nursery at Woolwich Dockyard;

(5) whether she will sanction the Greenwich Borough Council's project for a children's community home at Thames-mead;

(6) whether she will sanction the Greenwich Borough Council's project for a unit for the younger physically handicapped at Thamesmead;

(7) why she does not expect to sanction the Greenwich Borough Council project for 1975–76 for a day nursery at Woolwich Common.

Dr. Owen

As a result of the 20 per cent. reduction in capital expenditure imposed on 17th December 1973 by the previous Government, many social services projects proposed by local authorities in England have had to be deferred. One of the projects I have been unable to include in the programme for 1974–75 is the Greenwich London Borough Council's project for a hostel for the mentally ill. My Department is preparing for issue as soon as possible lists of social services projects on which preliminary work may usefully proceed with a view to their receiving final approval in 1975–76, if resources permit, or as soon as possible thereafter. The possibility of including this and the other projects proposed by the Greenwich London Borough Council to which my hon. Friend refers will be considered as these lists are prepared.