§ Mr. Alfred Morrisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what are his Department's target levels of residential places for elderly, mentally ill and mentally handicapped individuals per 1,000 of the general population; and what were both the highest and lowest levels of places provided by local authorities in each category for 1980–81.
§ Mr. Newton:The 1975 White Paper, Better Services for the Mentally III , suggested a guideline of 0.19 to 0.3 per 1,000 population. There are no target levels of residential places for elderly or for mentally handicapped people related to the general population. There is, however, a guideline for elderly people of 25 places per 1,000 of the population aged 65 and over; and there are targets for mentally handicapped people (which include places in private and voluntary homes) of 0.4 places per 1,000 population aged 0–15 and 0.81 places per 1,000 population aged 16 and over.
Guidelines are intended as indicators, not as rigid targets, and it is for each local authority (where appropriate, in consultation with the health authority) to decide its level of provision in the light of local circumstances.
The highest and lowest levels of places provided by local authorities in England per 1,000 of the general population are:
Type of Place Highest level Lowest level Elderly 6.0 1.6 Mental illness 0.58 Nil Mental handicap 0.75 Nil