§ Mr. Tony LloydTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the number of residential homes established in the north western region for each of the last four years, by local authority district.
§ Mr. FreemanInformation is not readily available in the form requested. The total number of residential homes for elderly and younger physically handicapped people in the north western region by local authority for the years ending 31 March 1984 to 1986 is published in "Residential Accommodation for Elderly and Younger Physically Handicapped People: All Residents in Local Authority, Voluntary and Private Homes year ending 31 March 1981 to year ending 31 March 1986 England". The total number of homes and hostels for mentally ill and mentally handicapped people is published annually in "Homes and Hostels for Mentally Ill and Mentally Handicapped People at 31 March England". Copies of these publications are available in the Library. Provisional information for 1987 is given in the table.
a few relatively large areas is preferable to one including many small areas. Areas where recent census tests have been held were avoided.
The precise areas selected were local authority wards as they existed at the time of the 1981 census. The parliamentary constituencies are those including the selected wards.