§ Mr. Moonmanasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many places are available in adolescent units for mentally-ill people under the age of 18 years; how many people under the age of 18 years are currently in adult wards in mental hospitals; and if he will make a statement.
§ Dr. OwenAt the end of 1974 there were 588 in-patient places in special psychiatric units or wards for adolescents in England and Wales, an increase of 63 places on 1973. I do not have more recent information on the numbers of people aged under 18 in adult wards in mental illness hospitals than that given in my reply to my hon. Friend on 21st May last year.—[Vol. 892, c.512.]—Arrangements are being made to collect in future annual statistical returns information on the number of in-patients aged under 16 in wards for adults in mental illness hospitals
§ Mr. Moonmanasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what advice he has offered to regional health authorities concerning arrangements for holidays for persons suffering from severe mental illness.
§ Dr. OwenNo general guidance has been given to health authorities. As I explained in my reply to my hon. Friend on 21st May 1975—[Vol. 892, c.518–9.]—local authorities have powers under the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970 to make arrangements for holidays for mentally disordered persons where they consider this to be necessary.
§ Mr. Moonmanasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will advise the appropriate authorities to assist persons who are rendered housebound by a mental illness such as agoraphobia and who are in need of a telephone to overcome their isolation.
§ Mr. Alfred MorrisThe effect of Section 29 of the National Assistance Act 1948, as amended, is that Section 2 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act applies to people who are mentally ill. As authorities have already been made aware, they are required to consider applications for assistance in the light of individual circumstances. Advice126W about assistance with telephones was issued by the former local authority associations. Where a need for a telephone is accepted under Section 2, it is the duty of the authority to make arrangements accordingly.
§ Mr. Moonmanasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will advise the appropriate authorities to provide sheltered accommodation for mentally ill and mentally handicapped people; and if he will make a statement.
§ Dr. OwenOn 23rd April 1974, in local authority circular 19/74, my right hon. Friend renewed the statutory direction originally given to local authorities in August 1959 to make arrangements for, among other things, the provision, whether in premises managed by the council or otherwise, of residential accommodation—including residential homes, hostels, group homes, minimum support facilities or other appropriate accommodation—for persons who are or have been suffering from mental disorder. The local authorities concerned will be assisted in meeting this duty by the provisions of the Housing Act 1974, which increased the assistance available from housing authorities for this purpose.
§ Mr. Moonmanasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will advise regional and local health authorities of the need, when informing themselves of the number and needs of permanently and substantially handicapped people, to include those who are severely mentally ill or mentally handicapped.
§ Mr. Alfred MorrisI assume my hon. Friend has in mind the mandatory duty which Section 1 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970 placed on local authorities—not on health authorities—to inform themselves of the number and needs of handicapped people in their areas. As I said in my reply to my hon. Friend on 21st May 1975, it has already been made clear to local authorities that this duty extends to persons who are suffering from mental disorder, and irrespective of whether the disability is permanent and substantial.