§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the average annual cost of caring for a person in a mental handicap hospital.
Radmissions to mental handicap hospitals and units in England Number Age group (years) Total 0–15 16–19 20–24 25–34 35–44 45–54 55–64 65 and over Total 1979 6,962 2,429 2,084 2,092 786 633 433 314 15,733 1980 7,731 2,831 2,488 2,439 1,017 684 449 276 17,915 1981 8,567 3,454 3,001 3,058 1,323 763 424 264 20,854 1982 9,685 4,186 3,534 3,234 1,486 867 522 306 23,820 1983 11,421 5,341 4,595 4,316 1,855 1,205 539 457 29,729 1984 11,909 6,156 5,523 5,365 2,359 1,259 658 348 33,577