§ Mr. Raisonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what discussions he has had with the medical profession on the implications of his Department's 149W policy for the development of services for the mentally ill.
§ Sir K. JosephLast autumn my Department organised a joint conference with the Royal College of Psychiatrists on providing a comprehensive district psychiatric service for the adult mentally ill. The proceedings are being published tomorrow under the title "Policy for Action" and I hope that they will be widely read by those engaged in the planning and provision of services. A copy will be placed in the Library of the House. My Department is holding a further meeting with the college this week to enable more detailed discussion of some of the important issues which emerged from the earlier meeting. I regard these conferences as providing a valuable opportunity for a wide-ranging and constructive exchange of views and I shall be taking account of them in the preparation of the White Paper on services for the mentally ill to be published next year.