§ 15. Mr. Bradfordasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will provide a holiday centre for physically handicapped people who require medical supervision presently unavailable in existing welfare holiday schemes.
§ The Under-Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (Mr. James A. Dunn)Health and social services boards may arrange holidays or short-stay accommodation for physically handicapped people in a variety of residential settings or in hospital, according to the needs of the person concerned and his family.
§ Mr. BradfordDoes the hon. Gentleman appreciate that medical supervision of a specialised kind is not available at many of these centres? Will he also accept that the area boards in Northern Ireland are enthusiastic about such a scheme which would involve medical supervision? Does he appreciate that as £1.5 million has been made available to some community associations, some of which operate in a very doubtful rôle in Northern Ireland, money cannot be the excuse for cutting off this worthy cause from the people of Northern Ireland?
§ Mr. DunnThe existing arrangements meet the majority of the needs. I appreciate the concern expressed by the hon. Gentleman, but he must be aware that consultations are taking place about the extension of services to the handicapped. It would be very expensive to provide the special medical care that the hon. Gentleman requires throughout all the centres, and I hope that he appreciates this fact. I am aware of one particular case in which he has shown great interest. Therefore, it is right that I should inform him that the allocation of accommodation has been made to that particular patient.
§ Sir David RentonIn giving further thought to this matter, will the hon. Gentleman bear in mind the needs of the mentally handicapped as well as the needs of the physically handicapped?