HC Deb 02 May 1955 vol 540 cc1330-1
13. Mr. Hurd

asked the Minister of Health what progress is being made in providing places in institutions for Berkshire children who have been certified as imbecile where it is necessary for the sake of other children in the family that a child should have institutional care.

Mr. Iain Macleod

The regional hospital board have in hand schemes which will provide some 360 additional beds for mental defectives. Sixty of these will come into use at once and the balance progressively over the next 12 months. Admission is governed primarily by the urgency of the need in the individual case and children in the category referred to by my hon. Friend would normally be in the highest priority group.

Mr. Hurd

Will my right hon. Friend do his best to press forward these plans? Is he aware that in recent years this distressing problem has been rather neglected and that not only in Berkshire but throughout the Southern counties we have too many children having to stay at home and being denied proper institutional care? Is my right hon. Friend aware that it would be a great help and relief to many parents if these children could be better looked after?

Mr. Macleod

We are no doubt slowly getting on top of this problem. The waiting list in the region to which my hon. Friend refers is 305 and my answer indicates that within a short time we shall have an additional 360 beds, which should cover most of the problem.