§ Mr. Hubbard-Milesasked the Secretary of State for Wales whether he has reached decisions on the provision of medium secure therapeutic psychiatric provision in Wales.
§ Mr. Wyn RobertsYes. We received 35 replies to the policy appraisal which I announced on 14 June 1984 at column 528. Most were strongly in favour of proceeding along the lines of our proposals. A case was made, however, for a slightly larger unit in south-east Wales to facilitate essential staff training and research. My right hon. Friend has therefore decided that 65 beds should be provided for Wales in three 15-bedded units and one 20-bedded unit. These will be built on the sites of existing psychiatric hospitals.
358WMy right hon. Friend will decide the specific sites for the units following a full option appraisal and further public consultation. However, we expect there to be two units in south-east Wales, one in west Wales and the other in north Wales. They will be constructed over a six-year period beginning in 1986–87 with two to be built initially, one of which will be the 20-bed unit. The cost of building the four units will be about £3.1 million, with annual running costs of about £1.6 million once all four are operational.