§ 40. Mr. Wattsasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he is in a position to report on the implementation of the measures being taken to encourage the removal of mentally handicapped people, in particular, children, from long—term hospitals.
§ Mr. John PattenThe number of children under 16 resident in all mental handicap hospitals and units in England fell from 2,839 in 1979 to 1,629 in 1982 and the numbers of adults aged 16 and over from 42,757 to 40,083 over the same period. Projects already approved under two centrally funded schemes available to health authorities and voluntary organisations will help to bring a further 250 mentally handicapped children out of hospital.