HC Deb 11 December 1975 vol 902 cc336-8W
Mrs. Chalker

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many places there were on 31st March 1975 in local authority homes and hostels for mentally handicapped adults; how many places there were on 31st March 1975 in local authority homes and hostels for mentally handicapped children; and how many places there were on 31st March 1975 in local authority adult training centres for the mentally handicapped, respectively.

Dr. Owen

6,193 places in local authority homes and hostels for mentally handicapped adults; 1,295 places for mentally handicapped children; and 34,245 places in local authority adult training, centres.

Mrs. Chalker

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the average daily number of occupied hospital beds for mentally handicapped adults and children at 31st December 1974.

Dr. Owen

The average daily number of occupied hospital beds in England for mentally handicapped adults and children during 1974 was 50,369.

Mrs. Chalker

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if she will make a statement about the effects on the 20-year programme, outlined in Command Paper No. 4683, of the current limitations of public expenditure in the health and personal social services sectors.

(2) what measures she is taking to ensure that the hospital services and provisions for the mentally handicapped continue to improve in spite of restrictions on local government spending.

Dr. Owen

We envisage that services for the mentally handicapped will continue to be one of the priority areas, but decisions on the level of the resources which can be made available for such services must be taken in relation to the totality of the resources available and to the needs of the health and personal social services as a whole; and it may be that progress towards the targets suggested by Command 4683 will have to be slower for the next few years. We intend to publish as soon as possible a consultative document which will both indicate the resources likely to be available and invite comment on suggested priorities.

Mrs. Chalker

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she will report on the achievements of the 1969 interim programme for improvements in services for the mentally handicapped given to the then regional hospital boards for implementation.

Dr. Owen

Overcrowding in terms of the space standards proposed was almost eliminated by the end of 1972. Average nursing ratios had improved from 1:3.86 in 1969–70 to 1:2.8 in 1974–75. By 1972–73 expenditure per patient week, reflecting improved standards, had increased in real terms by one-third. There have also been marked improvements in the standards of personal clothing and meals.

Mrs. Chalker

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she will detail the targets set for local and health authorities in the White Paper, Command Paper No. 4683, "Better Services for the Mentally Handicapped", which are currently being met by these authorities.

Dr. Owen

National targets for a 1520 year programme from 1971 are expressed in table 5 of Command 4683. The number of residential places, including local authority places and places made available by voluntary and other bodies, has increased from 6,629 at 31st December 1970 to 10,946 at 31st March 1975. Places in adult training centres have increased over the same period from 25,461 to 34,156. Hospital bed numbers have dropped from 62,175 in 1971 to 55,465 at 31st December 1974.