asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether he has reached decisions on the provision of medium secure therapeutic psychiatric provision in Wales.
Yes. We received 35 replies to the policy appraisal which I announced on 14 June 1984 at column 528. Most were strongly in favour of proceeding along the lines of our proposals. A case was made, however, for a slightly larger unit in south-east Wales to facilitate essential staff training and research. My right hon. Friend has therefore decided that 65 beds should be provided for Wales in three 15-bedded units and one 20-bedded unit. These will be built on the sites of existing psychiatric hospitals.
My right hon. Friend will decide the specific sites for the units following a full option appraisal and further public consultation. However, we expect there to be two units in south-east Wales, one in west Wales and the other in north Wales. They will be constructed over a six-year period beginning in 1986–87 with two to be built initially, one of which will be the 20-bed unit. The cost of building the four units will be about £3·1 million, with annual running costs of about £1·6 million once all four are operational.