§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he expects to publish his Green Paper on the needs of the mentally handicapped; if he will give details of the special studies that he intends to carry out in the needs of the most severely handicapped; and if he will make a statement.
§ Sir George YoungMy right hon. Friend hopes to issue in the first part of 1981 a consultative document on ways of removing obstacles to the transfer of patients from NHS mental handicap and other hospitals to the care of personal social services, when this would be to their benefit. As to the special studies on the mentally handicapped, I would refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend's reply to the hon. Member for Ormskirk, (Mr. Kilroy-Silk) on 15 December.