§ 45. Mr. Storeyasked the Minister of Health the number of mentally-deficient children awaiting admission to institutions; what proportion of these children fall within the highest priority group; and the longest time that any child within this group has been waiting for admission.
§ Mr. Iain MacleodAt the end of September, the number was just over 4,000. There is no one group which can be regarded as having the highest priority, since this must depend, firstly, on medical classification, and, secondly, on the social conditions in which the individual child is living.
§ 71. Mr. Iremongerasked the Minister of Health whether he is aware of the growing concern among parents of mentally-deficient children in Essex at the slow expansion in facilities for caring for these children; and what action he proposes to take.
§ Mr. Iain MacleodI am aware of and share the concern over this problem, which unfortunately is not confined to Essex. In the reply I gave to a Question by my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Ilford, South (Squadron Leader Cooper), on 20th May, I referred to the action being taken to provide more institutional accommodation and I am glad to say that one of the adapted properties I mentioned has since been opened and the other will be opened soon. Progress is being made with the other schemes and I have no doubt the regional hospital board will continue to give high priority to the provision of accommodation for this purpose.