§ Mr. Leeasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases have been brought to his notice during the last five years of courts sending defendants to prison solely because hospital beds in mental hospitals have been refused to them; and what action he is taking to ensure that this problem is dealt with.
§ Mr. Merlyn ReesCases of this kind come to the attention of my Department from time to time but it is not possible to say how many have been brought to notice in the last five years. This is a long-standing problem, which is not capable of any ready solution, but I am exploring it further with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services.