HC Deb 15 December 1977 vol 941 cc390-1W
Mrs. Chalker

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many and what proportion of pensioners living in each social security region are: (a) in receipt of a supplementary allowance to their pension, and (b) totally dependent on supplementary benefit.

Mr. Orme

Assuming that the hon. Member is referring to supplementary pensions, the available information is as follows:

would expect patients on discharge to receive any guidance necessary in relation to arrangements for any continued treatment or social support, and about services and facilities available locally to them.

Mr. Lomas

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people are in hospitals specially caring for the mentally ill.

Mr. Moyle

Of the 87,321 patients resident in mental illness hospitals and units on 31st December 1975, the latest date for which information is available, 75,820 patients were resident in mental illness hospitals. The remainder were in other hospitals as follows:

Units in general hospitals 5,407
Hospitals with both mentally ill and mentally handicapped patients (including some general hospitals) 3,059
Psychiatric units for children 224
Units in hospitals primarily for geriatric and chronically sick patients 2,811

Mr. Lomas

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what progress has been made in giving sheltered accommodation for the mentally ill; and, in particular, what help has been given by local authorities.

Mr. Moyle

On the basis of the tentative guidelines in the White Paper "Better Services for the Mentally Ill", some 12,000 residential places for the mentally ill are needed in England. Progress towards this target in 1974–76 was as follows:

Year (at 31st March) Places available in social services authorities' premises Total number of places available to social services authorities (including those provided by voluntary organisations and in private establishments)
1974 2,198 3,628
1975 2,545 4,496
1976 2,738 4,698

Some accommodation for mentally ill people is also provided by local housing authorities and housing associations.