§ Mr. Doddsasked the Minister of Health if he is aware of the distress arising from the difficulty being experienced by parents wishing to withdraw children placed in mental institutions before the age of 5 years with the parents' agreement, often because of temporary difficulties, and that this distress is increased when the children are moved from one institution to another, making visits by relatives and friends almost impossible; and what action he is taking to deal with this situation.
§ Mr. VosperI am not aware of any such cases. Parents who desire to place a child temporarily in a mental deficiency hospital can do so under present arrangements and can withdraw the child at any time. Mentally defective children are cared for in the nearest suitable hospital to their home.
§ Mr. Doddsasked the Minister of Health how many children under the age of 5 years have been certified as mental defectives since 1st January, 1950, or the nearest convenient date; and the number sent to mental institutions.
§ Mr. VosperSeparate figures of ascertained mental defectives are not available for children under 5. The number of children under 5 admitted to institutions vested in the Minister of Health during the period 1950–54 was 1,581.