§ Linda PerhamTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance he has given to local specialist services for people with severe challenging behaviours on the use of(a) educational, (b) behavioural, (c) environmental and (d) dietary stategies in preference to psychotropic medication. [127859]
§ Dr. LadymanThe report of the Mansell Committee (HMSO) 1993) provided guidance aon services for people with learning disabilities and challenging behaviour. Our White Paper "Valuing People" (Cm 5086), published in March 2001, notes that psychotropic medication may be very effective if someone has an underlying psychiatric disorder but points out that there is concern that too often this medication is used as an alternative to adequate staffing. The interventions to be used will depend on the individual situation and the factors that are contributing to the nature and severity of the behaviours that occur.