§ Dr Roger Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will take immediate steps to correct the faults and complaints that the recent investigation by the College of Psychiatrists have found in the centres in each of the Welsh health authorities where electro-convulsive therapy is practised as routine psychiatric treatment.
§ Mr. Wyn RobertsThe Welsh Office has written to area health authorities to ask them to ensure that all electro-convulsion treatment apparatus is checked for
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£ million 1981–82 prices 1977–78 1978–79 1979–80 1980–81 *1981–82 Amount of Exchequer subsidies for local authority dwellings (including improvement contributions) 72.9 72.1 74.6 73.4 37.3 * Provisional. The amount of Exchequer subsidy in 1980–81 at 1980–81 prices was £66.1 million. safety immediately and that any unsafe equipment is taken out of use. In addition, the Welsh Office is to have an observer on the working party which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services has set up to review urgently and to report on safety standards for ECT apparatus. The health departments will also be represented on the special committee which the Royal College of Psychiatrists has set up to recommend appropriate standards in the delivery of this treatment.