HC Deb 03 July 1980 vol 987 cc688-9W
Mr. Peter Mills

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what plans he has to increase the number of beds available in the Plymouth health district for geriatric cases and also the number of local authority residential places when the economic situation has improved.

Sir George Young

The provision of geriatric beds in the Plymouth health district is the responsibility of the Devon area health authority and the provision of local authority residential places is the responsibility of Devon county council. Subject to the availability of resources, I would expect these authorities to consider the development of services to meet the needs of the growing numbers of very elderly people to be one of their priorities.