§ Mr. Kilroy-Silkasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is able to give an assurance that the priority he gives to service for the mentally handicapped will not decline as a result of the abolition of the National Development Group.
§ Sir George YoungCertainly. Moreover, the publications of the National Development Group will continue to be available free of charge from the Department.
§ Mr. Kilroy-Silkasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give a higher priority than hitherto to measures which can help to prevent mental handicap; and what are the measures he is presently taking.
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§ Sir George YoungThe hon. Member will be aware that recommendations for the prevention of mental handicap were included in the second report from the Social Services Committee on perinatal and neonatal mortality, and I refer him to the Government's reply to this which was published on 3 December—Cmnd 8084.
§ Mr. Kilroy-Silkasked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he intends to issue the promised circular on inappropriate admission of mentally handicapped children to hospital; and why it has not yet been issued.
§ Sir George YoungI refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Liverpool, Edge Hill (Mr. Alton) on 7 November.—[Vol. 991, c.687.]
§ Mr. Kilroy-Silkasked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he is to introduce additional training in child care for all staff in charge of mentally handicapped children's wards.
§ Sir George YoungDiscussions are being held with the Joint Board of Clinical Nursing Studies on the question of additional training in child care for all staff in charge of mentally handicapped children's wards.