§ Mr. MacFarquharasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what plans her Department has for the long term for the improvement of the care of the mentally handicapped.
§ Dr. OwenAs my right hon. Friend announced in her statement to the House on 15th May—[Vol 873, c. 1295–96]—it is her intention to press for priority to be given to loan consents so that the pace of development can be restored to the level envisaged in "Better Services for the Mentally Handicapped". She hopes to make a fuller statement, however, later this year.
§ Mr. Parkinsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the latest estimate of the number of mentally handicapped children resident in subnormality hospitals.
§ Dr. OwenAt 31st December 1972, the latest date for which figures are available, there were 5,951 mentally handicapped children aged 15 years and under in mental handicap hospitals in England.