To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many persons have been detained at Whitchurch hospital because of lack of medium secure accommodation for each of the last five years; what has been the cost involved; and whether South Glamorgan health authority has been compensated for that expenditure.

District health authorities are responsible for meeting the health care needs of their mentally ill patients, including those who need to be cared for in secure conditions. The records maintained by South Glamorgan health authority do not allow for precise calculations of the number of patients treated in ward west 3 who might have warranted medium secure acommodation over the past five years, but the authority estimates that 15 or 20 might have fallen into this category. In recognition of the special role undertaken by Whitchurch hospital for this group of patients, additional funding has been made available since 1977 for nursing support. This currently amounts to £180,000 a year. The Welsh Office also helps to fund a hospital social worker at the hospital.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many persons have been accommodated in the locked ward at Whitchurch hospital for each of the last five years; what has been the extra cost involved; and whether South Glamorgan health authority has been compensated for that expenditure.

South Glamorgan health authority has provided the following breakdown of patients accommodated at ward west 3.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many persons detained at Whitchurch hospital have escaped in each of the last five years.

Two patients are reported by South Glamorgan health authority to have escaped from ward west 3 over the past five years, in 1987 and 1989. In addition, two patients absconded whilst on authorised parole, both during 1990.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what review he has made of security arrangements at Whitchurch hospital following the escape of Andrew Peter Jones and others; and if he will make a statement.

This is a matter for South Glamorgan health authority.

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has for the provision of medium secure accommodation for persons who are now directed to Whitchurch hospital.

Following my hon. Friend's announcement on 21 February 1990, the all-Wales advisory group on forensic psychiatry is due to report during the spring. In the meantime, work has commenced on an interim secure unit at Glanrhyd hospital in Mid Glamorgan which is likely to take its first patients during 1991.