§ Mr. Kilroy-Silkasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will investigate the allegations that mentally ill and mentally handicapped persons in Wirral are forced to wander the streets at day because private landlords will not allow them to remain indoors during the day.
§ Sir George YoungThe Wirral borough council is, I understand, aware of certain problems in this field. The question of action to meet them is one for the council to decide.
§ Mr. Kilroy-Silkasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many(a) mentally-ill and(b) mentally handicapped persons in Wirral are boarded out with private landlords.
§ Sir George YoungThree mentally ill and four mentally handicapped people are boarded out by the Wirral borough council with private landlords; in addition, there are 18 mentally ill and six mentally handicapped people in group housing schemes. It is estimated that 40 mentally ill and 10 mentally handicapped patients are boarded out by hospitals and about 80 mentally ill and 20 mentally handicapped people are known to live in private accommodation which they have found independently.
§ Mr. Kilroy-Silkasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many day care places for the mentally ill and mentally handicapped are provided by Wirral council.
§ Sir George YoungA total of 50 and 420, respectively.
§ Mr. Kilroy-Silkasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many residential places are provided by Wirral council for(a) mentally-ill,(b) mentally handicapped and(c) how far these fall short of requirements.
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§ Sir George YoungThe council pro vides directly 32 long-stay places for the mentally ill and 48 long-stay and 16 rotating care places for the mentally handicapped. A further eight places for the mentally ill and 30 places for the mentally handicapped are supported by the council in privately-run homes in the Wirral. The council also finances 10 mental illness places and 22 mental handicap places with voluntary organisations outside the Wirral. It estimates that a further 40 mental illness and 160 mental handicap long-stay places would be required to satisfy present demands.