§ Mr. Alfred Morrisasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what advice he has issued to local authorities concerning the provision of hostel accommodation for single persons, in particular for young people who have recently left 400W schools for the educationally subnormal; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. ChannonI have issued no recent advice on this subject, but improved financial arrangements for hostels are proposed in the current Housing and Planning Bill and I shall be issuing further guidance in due course on them. The general provision of housing for single people should be in the form of self-contained accommodation. A DOE Design Bulletin No. 23, published in 1971, will shortly be supplemented by further advice.
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services has issued guidance on the long-term accommodation and support of those who suffer personality disorders which prevent them from securing accommodation for themselves. Most school leavers, including the educationally subnormal, continue to live at home initially unless they go on to further education. Before severely educationally subnormal children leave school, local education and social services authorities work together to secure that they continue to receive the necessary social services care, including residential care.