§ 23. Dr. Vaughanasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a further statement on the progress being made by the Rowntree Trust in distributing the £3 million provided by the Government for disabled children.
§ Sir K. JosephI cannot at present add to the statement made by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State in the course of the Second Reading debate on the Consolidated Fund Bill on 22nd March. I am sending a copy of my letter to local authorities and of the trust's explanatory leaflet to my hon. Friend.— [Vol. 853, c. 754–57.]
§ 46. Mr. David Stoddartasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will institute an inquiry into the conditions and quality of life of physically and mentally handicapped children living in long-stay hospitals.
§ Sir K. JosephMy Department has put in hand with hospitals and local authorities a variety of measures to improve con ditions for these children and to reduce the number who must spend long periods in hospital. The committee which, as has been announced, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science and I are to appoint to review the whole range of child health services can be expected to give further attention to the needs of severely handicapped children, and I do not think a further inquiry is called for.