§ Lord Thurlowasked Her Majesty's Government:
Which inner city health authorities outside the London area have failed to provide the number of hospital beds required for (a) acute and (b) long-stay psychiatric patients and what is the shortfall in each case.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Baroness Cumberlege)The Government do not set norms for psychiatric beds. The number of beds required is a matter for each health authority to determine, based on their assessment of local needs and they should urgently address any shortfall in provision.