§ 49. Mr. Ronald Atkinsasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the total number of patients, their age ranges, their home local authorities, and the percentage ready for discharge into the community in the Lancaster Royal Albert, the Calderstones and Brockall mental hospitals.
§ Mr. MoyleFollowing is the information for 31 December 1978:
sibility for patients in the Lancaster Royal Albert, the Calderstones and Whalley mental hospitals are able to offer sufficient alternative accommodation within their locality; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MoyleI am pleased to say that local authority residential provision for both mentally handicapped children and adults in the catchment area of these hospitals is substantially above the national average. According to the latest 611W published statistics, Greater Manchester has more places in relation to its population than any other metropolitan area, and the position in Lancashire is even better. However, as is the case throughout the country, both areas have some way to go before achieving the levels of provision suggested for attainment by the early 1990s in the 1971 White Paper "Better Services for the Mentally Handicapped".