§ Mrs. Chalkerasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many patients in (a) mental illness hospitals and (b) mental handicap hospitals are not the responsibility of any local authority because of length of stay, boundary changes or for other reasons.
§ Mr. MeacherUnder the Health Services and Public Health Act 1968 local authorities have a duty to provide services for the care of all persons who are or have been suffering from mental disorders, including those leaving mental200W illness or mental handicap hospitals, who are ordinarily resident within the area of the authority and for persons in the authority's area who have no settled residence. In cases of doubt it is for the local authorities concerned to reach agreement between themselves. Information on the number of cases where disagreement has arisen is not available centrally.