asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if she will institute an inquiry into the after-care of and the facilities provided for mentally ill and mentally handicapped persons discharged from hospital;(2) if she is satisfied with the arrangements made for the community care of those mentally ill and mentally handicapped persons discharged from hospital.

While no one can be satisfied with the present arrangements for community care, and there is a clear need for more effective co-ordination and collaboration between different services for patients discharged from hospital, I do not believe an inquiry would add to good professional practice. The facts and the deficiencies are well enough known. What is needed is more resources, high standards and changed attitudes. I would refer my hon. Friend to the analysis contained in the text of the relevant White Papers "Better Services for the Mentally Handicapped" and "Better Services for Mentally Ill".

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many mentally ill and mentally handicapped persons have been discharged from hospital in the last year for which figures are available.

In 1973, the last year for which figures are available, 174,463 mentally ill patients and 12,047 mentally handicapped patients were discharged from or transferred between psychiatric hospitals and units in England and Wales

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she will consider introducing legislation compelling guest houses catering for formerly mentally ill and mentally handicapped persons to be registered.

I am reviewing the current arrangements for registration of voluntary and private accommodation, including provisions for the mentally ill or mentally handicapped, and those who have been mentally ill and are still in need of some measure of care or support.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many persons discharged from hospitals for the mentally ill and handicapped on Merseyside and in the North-West in the last year are currently in (a) registered homes, (b) guest houses and (c) other accommodation.

This information is not readily available for local authorities or registered homes. We have no information for those in guest houses or other accommodation.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many (a) mentally ill and (b) mentally handicapped people have been discharged from hospital (c) on Merseyside and (d) in the North-West for each of the last two years.

The number of discharges and deaths of mentally ill and mentally handicapped hospital patients in the Mersey and North-Western Health Authority Regions for the latest two years for which figures are available are as follows: