§ Mr. Hardyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what progress has been made or is planned in the development of secure regional hospital units to accommodate psychiatric patients who could properly be accommodated in such hospitals rather than in Her Majesty's prisons.
§ Mr. MoyleTen regional health authorities have submitted to my Department planning proposals for regional secure units. Several regions have interim secure facilities, and most of the others are actively planning such facilities. My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary and I are discussing the problem of finding suitable hospital places for those offenders who are suffering from mental disorder of a nature and degree which warrants their detention in hospital for treatment, and the contribution the regional secure units are likely to be able to make to this when they come into operation. The first two or three units are not likely to come into operation until 1980 or 1981.