§ Mr. BurstowTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent guidance he has given to local authorities about charging people receiving services under section 117 of the Mental Health Act 1983; what estimate he has made of the number of(a) local authorities charging people receiving services under section 117 and (b) people being charged for services under section 117; what estimate he has made of the cost of compensating people incorrectly charged for services under section 117; what estimate he has made of the cost to local authorities of abolishing charges for services under section 117; and if he will make a statement. [118795]
§ Mr. HuttonOn 10 February 2000 the Department issued a circular to local authorities and health authorities in England drawing attention to the High Court judgment in the case of Rv. London Borough of Richmond ex parte Watson (HSC 2000/003: LAC (2000)3). Local authorities still charging for services provided as part of after-care under section 117 of the Mental Health Act 1983 were advised that they should immediately cease to do so. The Association of Directors of Social Services (ADSS) has carried out a survey of local authorities in England and Wales with the aim of identifying how many local authorities charge for section 117 after-care services and the estimated costs of providing such services free of charge. We understand that the results have not been published.