§ Sir Geoffrey PattieTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what information is possessed by his Department in relation to the provision of services in the community for the mentally ill as set out in the 1975 White Paper, and whether the targets set out in the White Paper still apply.
§ Mr. MellorThe Command Paper "Better Services for the Mentally Ill", published in 1975 by the then Labour Government, did not set illustrative targets.
The development of mental illness services, including the shift to locally-based services, is a regular feature of the annual review meeting which Ministers and the National Health Service management board hold with each regional health authority. This forum is the main method by which health authorities are held accountable for their work. In addition, the Department's social services inspectorate maintains liaison with local social services departments, taking an interest in the development of their services, including those for patients discharged from mental hospitals.