§ Mr. Campbell-SavoursTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what extent in the proposed land transactions of health authorities with developers to upgrade, purchase and build community facilities for the mentally ill, capital receipts would be offset against regional health authority allocations to district health authorities.
§ Mr. FreemanThe policy is that district health authorities should benefit from the proceeds of sale of surplus property but the "Handbook on Land Transactions" makes it clear that the closure of hospitals for the mentally ill and mentally handicapped must be preceded by the build-up of comprehensive alternative services covering the whole of the hospital's catchment area. In these cases regional health authorities are required 913W to use their discretion as to the districts which are to benefit from sale proceeds within the general requirement to ensure that the proceeds are specifically used for development of services for the client group concerned.