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Learning Disability

Volume 497: debated on Wednesday 14 October 2009

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how much of the £175 million fund to build new homes in the community for people with learning disabilities has been spent in each year since the fund was established; (291931)

(2) with reference to his Department's press release of 9 August 2007, Opening the door to a new life for people with learning disabilities, what recent estimate he has made of the number of people still resident on NHS campuses.

The Government are making good progress towards its commitment to close by 2010 national health service residential accommodation (campuses) for people with learning disabilities.

The NHS Information Centre undertake a twice yearly data collection of campus numbers in April and October and figures for April 2009 are currently being analysed. In August 2007, we estimated that there were around 2,100 people living in NHS campuses and by April 2009, there were around 1,000.

The Department invited primary care trusts to bid for capital from the £175 million fund in three stages and expenditure has been as follows:

£ million

Stage 1—2007-08

5

Stage 2—2008-09

43

Stage 3—2009-10

52

Bids have also been made for 2010-11 and £15 million has been committed.

A total of £115 million has been spent or committed.