asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what further measures he proposes to take to ensure that the regional health authorities actually spend the £17 million special revenue allocation given to them for regional secure psychiatric units on the establishment of such units.

I would refer my hon. Friend to my reply to the hon. Member for Worcestershire, South (Mr. Spicer) earlier today.The revenue funds for staffing and other recurrent expenditure for regional secure units amount to £6·5 million per year at current pay and price levels. This sum, suitably revalued, will be included and separately identified in the 1979–80 revenue allocations to regional health authorities which will be urged to devote any part of their special allocations which they cannot spend on secure facilities to other psychiatric services.