HC Deb 01 August 1984 vol 65 cc337-8W
Mr. Strang

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will estimate the numbers of children under 16 years of age resident in (a) local authority and (b) registered voluntary homes for mentally handicapped children in each of the last 10 years in Scotland.

Mr. John MacKay

The estimated numbers of residents in homes catering exclusively for mentally handicapped children are given in the following table. Scottish local authorities no longer run such homes: mentally handicapped children are generally accommodated in homes with other children. Figures for 1974 and 1975 are not available.

Home
Local authority Registered voluntary
1976 82 63
1977 73 56
1978 62 70
1979 63 77
1980 52 35
1981 39 32
1982 24 33
1983 Nil *33
*Provisional

Mr. Strang

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will estimate the numbers of mentally-handicapped children under 16 years of age resident in mental-handicap hospitals in Scotland (a) by total and (b) as a proportion per 100,000 of the population, in each of the last 10 years.

Mr. John MacKay

The information is as follows:

Number Rate/100,000 Population
1973 1,269 235.0
1974 1,170 214.0
Changes 1978–79 (£ million)
Cmnd. 9143 Classification Policy NIS Abolition Other
Agriculture, fisheries and food 79
Industry, energy, trade and employment 84
Other Services
Tourism 6
Roads and transport 301
Housing 580
Other environmental services 312
Number Rate/100,000 Population
1975 1,073 194.6
1976 969 175.6
1977 882 159.8
1978 767 140.3
1979 675 124.9
1980 573 108.3
1981 480 91.6
1982* 402 78.9
* Figures provisional

Mr. Strang

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will estimate the numbers of mentally-handicapped children in Scotland under 16 years resident in mental handicap hospitals in Scotland by age bands.

Mr. John MacKay

This information is as follows:

Residents under the age of 16 in Scottish mental handicap hospitals at 31 December 1982
Age Group Total
0–4 5–9 10–15 0–15
19 73 310 402

Note: Figures provisional.