§ Mr. Carmichaelasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will have talks with the hospital boards in the west of Scotland to improve the supply of psycho-geriatric places, and include in these talks representatives of the Regional Council Social Work Committee, with a view to balancing this provision with that of rooms available in old people's homes.
§ Mr. Harry EwingA meeting with all six health boards in the west of Scotland convened by my Department will be held on 23rd June and this matter will be among those discussed. There is already a liaison committee between the health boards and Strathclyde Regional Council at which their respective plans for provision for the elderly are considered. The general question of provision for the elderly with mental disability in the community and in hospitals, including the balance between social work and health service provision, has been studied by a group appointed jointly by the Scottish Health Service Planning Council and the Advisory Council on Social Work. I expect to receive its report very soon.