§ Mr. WigleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what plans he has to publish advice to local services on issues of common concern for people with mental handicaps, relating to the integration of people with additional needs such as challenging behaviour and people with (i) mental handicaps and (ii) mental illness.
§ Mr. Newton[holding answer 16 March 1988]: The Department's paper' "Mental Handicap: policies and priorities" draws attention to the need to identify mentally handicapped people with special needs and to plan services to meet them. "Helping Mentally Handicapped People with Special Problems", the report of a departmental study team, was published in 19842. It covered special needs such as multiple and sensory handicaps and behaviour 255W disturbance in severely mentally handicapped people. In recognition of the special needs of mentally handicapped people who are also mentally ill or behaviourally disturbed, a departmental team has undertaken a programme of visits and discussions with people who are currently providing or planning services to respond to the needs of these individuals. The Department is now considering how best to share information about services and facilities. We are also sponsoring a number of relevant research studies which it is hoped will help health and local authorities to plan services.
1 Paragraph 32 of Annex 2 of the Government's response to the Second Report from the Social Services Committee on Community Care. (Cmnd. 9674).
2DHSS.