§ 80. Mr. Leadbitterasked the Minister of Health how many mentally handicapped children are educationally the responsibility of his Department; and what progress he has made in keeping this responsibility under review with a view to transferring it to the Department of Education and Science.
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§ Mr. K. RobinsonApproximately 30,000 mentally subnormal children, including those under the age of five, are in hospitals or receiving services from local health authorities. The best methods of providing the services they need, including training, are continually under review.
§ Mr. Brian Parkynasked the Minister of Health how many mentally subnormal children there are in the County of Bedford; and what special provision is being made to enable them to receive sympathetic and special education.
§ Mr. K. RobinsonIn addition to children in hospital, 105 are known to and receiving services from the County Council. Of these, 16 are under age 5, one is in a residential home, 10 are awaiting admission to hospital, 55 are receiving training in centres or at home and 15 are on the training centre waiting list. The remaining 8 are unsuitable to attend training centres, and their parents are at present unwilling for them to be admitted to hospital. The appointment of additional staff, and new building schemes planned for the current financial year, are expected to provide 61 more training centre places for children, some of which will be used by children from Luton.