§ Mr. CousinsTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish a table showing, in the case of the Northern regional health authority, how the reduction in provision of hospital provision for the mentally ill and the mentally handicapped has been translated into increased community care provision, using both output indicators and input indicators.
§ Mr. DorrellWe do not hold information centrally that would enable us to establish a valid correlation between336W hospital provision for mentally ill or mentally handicapped people in the region and community care provision.
I recently announced plans which will enable local authorities to increase the level of care they offer to mentally ill people being treated in the community. Health authorities will be required to ensure that any reduction in the number of hospital beds for mentally handicapped and mentally ill people does not outpace the development of alternative community services. The hon. Member may care to contact the chairman of the Northern regional health authority for more information.