asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when the secure unit at Prestwich Hospital, Manchester, will be open; and what procedures will be followed regarding the making of applications for admission of patients.

A regional security unit at Prestwich Hospital is now being planned. It is expected to become operational, together with a forensic unit, in about two

			Years ending 31st March
			1970	1971	1972	1973	1974
England	…	…	0·39	0·45	0·39	0·39	0·39
Northern	…	…	0·36	—	0·39	0·36	0·38
Yorkshire	…	…		—	0·38	0·39	0·37
North Western	…	…	0·45	—	0·45	0·44	0·45
West Midlands	…	…	0·34	—	0·37	0·37	0·36
East Midlands	…	…		—	0·35	0·39	0·37
London North	…	…	0·27	—	0·25	0·26	0·25
London Central	…	…	0·63	—	0·62	0·64	0·62
London South	…	…	0·31	—	0·33	0·31	0·32
South Western	…	…	0·35	—	0·33	0·35	0·35
Wales	…	…	0·24	0·34	0·28	0·29	0·30
				Years ending 31st December
			1970	1971	1972	1973	1974
Scotland	…	…	—	0·67	0·86	0·81	—

The number of children admitted to the care of local authorities in England and Wales in the year ending 31st March 1971 is not directly comparable with that in other years because it included 11,692 children in England and 636 in Wales subject to approved school orders or to supervision following release from approved school on 31st December 1970 who were deemed to be in the care of a local authority by virtue of paragraph 7(2) of Schedule 4 to the Children and Young Persons Act 1969. It is regretted that a regional breakdown of the figures for 1971 is not available. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland has supplied the figures for Scotland, but regrets that the figure for 1974 is not yet available and that for 1970 is not shown as for various reasons it is not directly comparable with the figures for the following years. The figures for England and Wales, but not those for Scotland, exclude children committed to care under an interim care order or remanded to care.