§ Mr. AtkinsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how the capital and revenue savings obtained from the running down and disposal of large-scale mental health hospitals are transferred from health authorities to social service authorities for the expansion of community care services and facilities for the resettlement of discharged patients.
§ Mr. DorrellThe resources released by the closure and disposal of psychiatric hospitals are mainly redeployed for the development of community based mental health services. A mechanism exists for the transfer of such resources to local authorities in order to develop social care services through the dowry system described in circular HC(83)6/LAC(83)5, a copy of which is in the Library. Dowries are predominantly used for the resettlement of patients from mental handicap hospitals.