§ Mr. Tom Benyonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) in view of the conclusion of the Oxford regional health authority study group that there is no need for security facilities for the mentally ill in its area, why money was allocated to the regional health authority before need was established;
(2) in view of the fact that a further £400,000 has been allocated to the Oxford regional area health authority to run security facilities for the mentally ill, which are not required, if he will take steps to recoup these funds; and if he will stop further funds being made available;
(3) how much money has been allocated to the Oxford regional health 403W authority in the last four years, to provide security facilities to house the mentally ill.
§ Sir George YoungSpecial revenue allocations have been given, since 1976, to regional health authorities on the basis of a level of provision of 20 places per million population, to enable them to provide regional secure units and, in the meantime, to make secure arrangements for mentally disordered patients who cannot be satisfactorily managed in ordinary mental illness and mental handicap hospitals and units, but who do not require the very high security of the special hospitals.
The Department is in continuing discussion with Oxford regional health authority on the nature of the facilities needed for both the mentally ill and the mentally handicapped in that region.
The amounts received by Oxford regional health authority over the last four years are as follows—£ thousand:
1976–77 246 1977–78 284 1878–79 308 1979–80 330 Total 1,168 It has always been recognised that until the permanent units are established authorities will not be able to use all of the revenue allocation on secure facilities, and, since the allocation derives from funds voted for health services, authorities have been allowed to use it for other non-recurrent purposes, and in particular on improving other psychiatric services. I have presently no plans to alter these arrangements.