asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what expansion of local authority residential facilities for mentally handicapped adults has taken place since 1973; and if he will make a statement about the pace of future provision.

The information requested is set out in the table below:

MENTALLY HANDICAPPED ADULTS
	Home and hostel places provided by local authorities	Total places available to local authorities
At 31st March 1973	4,777	7,302
At 31st March 1974	5,252	7,823
At 31st March 1975	6,172	9,145
At 31st March 1976	7,206	10,377

	Per cent.	Per cent.
Rate of expansion 1973–76	51	42

The future rate of increase will depend on local decisions made in the light of the Department's Consultative Document on "Priorities for Health and Personal Social Services in England" which asked local authorities to try to maintain progress towards the targets for residential provision set out in the 1971 White Paper, "Better Services for the Mentally Handicapped".