§ Mr. D. E. Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Wales how many local authority social services departments in Wales are planning to close down day centres for the mentally ill; and if he will list them.
§ Mr. John Morris:One at Blackwood.
§ Mr. D. E. Thomasasked the Secretary tary of State for Wales what would be the effect of any proposed closure of local authority day centres for the mentally ill on the number of available places in Wales in total and per 1,000 population for each local authority area, as stated in his reply of 13th December 1974.
§ Mr. John Morris:Of the four day centres for the mentally ill provided by social services departments in Wales only one, which has 23 places, is planned to close. The number of places in units attached to hospitals remains the same. The resultant figures per 1,000 population for Wales as a whole is 0.23. The position by local authority area is as follows:
Day centre places Places in units attached to hospitals Rate per 1,000 population Clwyd — 32 0.09 Dyfed — 69 0.22 Gwent 87 18 0.24 South Glamorgan — 350 0.89 West Glamorgan — 78 0.21
§ Mr. D. E. Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received about proposed closures of day centres for the mentally ill in Wales; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. John Morris:None directly, but my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary was sent a copy of a letter addressed to the Chairman of the Social Services Committee for Gwent County Council by the office in Wales of the National Association for Mental Health, protesting at the decision to close a day centre in Gwent. The decision about this centre is entirely one for Gwent County Council to take.