§ 40. Mrs. Cullenasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware of the lack of accommodation in Scotland for the care of mentally defective children; and what steps he is taking to ease the situation.
Mr. McNeilI regard the provision of additional accommodation for mental defectives as a matter of importance, but difficulties in supply of building labour and materials have prevented any substantial extensions, and the shortage of nursing staff has imposed a further limitation.
§ Mrs. CullenIs my right hon. Friend aware that at the present time there are 117 such children on the waiting list in the City of Glasgow and that this is causing great concern to the local authority? These children are living in the worst slum areas of the city. Will my right hon. Friend give this matter his sympathetic consideration?
Mr. McNeilI am indebted to my hon. Friend, and I repeat that I am distressed about this problem. I should be glad to engage her assistance in trying to recruit staff because, apart from the building programme, we have accommodation specially designed for this type of patient and we are not able to use it at present because of staff shortages.