§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list by regional health authority and by district health authority the current number of beds in medium secure units run by health authorities in England; what were the figures for each of the last four years; and if she will make a statement. [23506]
§ Mr. BowisThe figures for regions are shown in the table. They do not include places in national health service interim secure psychiatric units—many of which are of medium secure standard—or those funded by health authorities in independent sector facilities. Information for individual districts is not available centrally.
These places have been funded from the NHS central capital programme. Nearly 400 more places funded from this source are due to open by the end of next year.
Total central NHS capital investment in the medium secure programme amounts to more than £100 million—at 1993 prices—of which over £47 million was allocated between 1991 and 1995. In addition, further medium secure places are being developed by regions from mainstream NHS capital programme.
There were no purpose-built NHS medium secure places in 1979, despite the fact that the Glancy committee had recommended them in its 1974 report.
subject of operating leases. Instead, they lay down general criteria for such leases which ensure that the risk of ownership remains with the lessor. It is for local authorities and their auditors to decide whether these criteria are met in any particular case.