asked the Secretary of State for Social Services on what date Fazakerley and Walton hospitals received authorisation to detain patients under the Mental Health Act 1959; how many patients were detained at each hospital prior to authorisation; and if he will explain how this occurred.

There is no statutory provision for the designation of NHS hospitals for the purpose of admitting patients under the compulsory powers of part IV of the Mental Health Act 1959. Any NHS hospital may accept patients who are detained under part IV of the Act. Following the provision of new psychiatric facilities, Fazakerley and Walton hospitals have been accepting, since 1 January 1979 and 1 April 1979 respectively, all compulsorily detained patients referred there. Prior to those dates, patients were accepted as a matter of special urgency only.