§ Mr. Alfred Morrisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will consider allocating extra resources to inner city areas to help alleviate the strain on social services departments, in view of the Greater London council's finding that only 3 per cent. of inner London residents who were discharged from psychiatric hospitals had any firm arrangements for social services follow-up support.
§ Mr. John PattenThe rate support grant settlement takes account of the general responsibilities of local authorities, including caring for ex-patients from psychiatric institutions, and health authorities can contribute to the cost in appropriate cases. The Government do not earmark particular sums for particular380W personal social services. The report to which the right hon. Member refers reports that NHS after-care was provided in 71 per cent. of cases for inner London, social services care in 3 per cent., and that the remaining 26 per cent. of cases included those who received other care, or whose care or treatment was not known.