HC Deb 19 October 1989 vol 158 cc243-4W
Mr. Maclennan

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list in theOfficial Report (a) the number of people living within Highland region who are over the age of 18 years and who are registered as mentally handicapped on the joint health and social work register and (b) the number of people living within Highland region who have been exempted from community charge liability on the ground of mental handicap.

Mr. Lang

The number of people aged over 18 years in Highland region who are listed in the joint health board and social work register as mentally handicapped total 640, of whom 140 are known to be accommodated in hospital at present.

On the basis of information supplied by the community charges registration officer for Highland region, 280 people were exempt from the personal community charge in Highland on the ground of severe mental impairment as at the beginning of September.