HC Deb 12 June 1979 vol 968 cc169-70W
Mr. Bidwell

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when

Mr. Brittan

On 31 May 1979, 22 cases of sentenced prisoners recommended for transfer under section 72 of the Mental Health Act 1959 to NHS hospitals remained unresolved following approaches to the relevant regional health authority.

It would be inappropriate to describe any such prisoner as awaiting admission to a specific hospital, since although a vacancy would normally be sought in the hospital serving his home address, it is always open to a regional health authority to provide a vacancy for him in another hospital in its area. A breakdown of the 22 cases showing the areas in which vacancies are being sought and the length of time which has elapsed since the request for a vacancy was made is given in the following table:

which emergency was proclaimed, the length of time each emergency lasted and the nature of the industrial disputes which precipitated the taking of emergency powers in each case.

Mr. Whitelaw

The information is as follows:

he will authorise an increase in London taxi fares.

Mr. Whitelaw

I hope to be in a position to do so shortly.