Mr. Fred Evansasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the latest estimate of the number of severely mentally handicapped children receiving services from local authorities in England and Wales.
§ Dr. OwenNot all severely mentally handicapped children are so categorised by the local authorities which provide them with services and the services which such children receive may not be provided specifically for this group. However, returns from local authorities indicate that at the end of March 1973 approximately 10,000 severely mentally handicapped children in England and Wales were under the care of local authority social services departments. Local education authorities were providing education in special schools for some 30,000 severely mentally handicapped children.
Mr. Fred Evansasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the latest estimate of the number of severely mentally handicapped children resident in local authority homes or hostels in England and Wales.
§ Dr. OwenReturns from local authorities indicate that at 31st March 1973, the latest date for which figures are available, there were some 600 severely mentally handicapped children under the age of 16 resident in local authority homes and hostels in England and Wales.