§ Mr. IrvingTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make it his policy that in regions where health authority assessments of the local needs of the mentally ill have not been made, he will withhold approval of further reductions in mental hospital beds and if plans for the closure of such hospitals until assessments of their needs have been made and alternative services to meet the needs provided.
§ Mr. NewtonWe have already emphasised that no closure of a mental illness hospital should go ahead until a carefull assessment of all the existing patients' needs has been made and alternative services appropriate to those needs have been provided. The closure of hospitals should be a consequence of the former residents being suitably accommodated eleswhere, and not a reason for them to be placed in unsuitable accommodation.