§ Mr. Kilroy-Silkasked the Secretary of State for Social Servies if he will extend the review of mental handicap policy to cover education, housing and employment for mentally handicapped people.
§ Sir George YoungThe review has now been completed and a copy of the report on it—"Mental Handicap: Progress, Problems and Priorities"—has been placed in the House of Commons Library.
§ Mr. Kilroy-Silkasked the Secretary of State for Social Services when stage 2 of the review of service for the mentally handicapped is to begin.
§ Mr. Patrick JenkinFollow-up action on the review will necessarily be limited in view of the current pressure on resources. I have decided therefore to concentrate further action on a few key areas: getting children out of large mental handicap hospitals; day care services for the most severely handicapped; and services for those with additional special needse.g. the deaf, blind and elderly. In addition, I shall be canvassing views on a number of ideas for easing the transfer of resources from the NHSto personal social services in order to encourage the transfer to personal social services care of people who do not need to be in a hospital.
I have placed a copy of my speech of 10 December to the National Society for Mentally Handicapped Children and Adults in the Library of the House.
§ Mr. Kilroy-Silkasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a full statement of his policy on the National Development Group for Mentally Handicapped paper "Service for Mentally Handicapped People: Unfinished Business".
§ Sir George YoungI refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend's reply to the right hon. Member for Manchester, Wythenshawe (Mr. Morris) on 23 July.—[Vol. 989 c.285.]