asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is her estimate of the numbers of homeless men and women in the large cities of England and Wales who are former patients of mental hospitals and who have lost contact with the health authorities; and if this information is not available, whether she will ask local authorities to provide such information in the future.

This information is not available, and the practical difficulties are such that I do not consider local authorities would be able to provide it. The hon. Member will, of course, realise that many former patients may not need to maintain contact with the health authorities.