HC Deb 27 April 1976 vol 910 c85W
Mrs. Chalker

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps he is taking to secure the removal of children with minor mental handicaps from National Health Service hospitals and place them in alternative accommodation.

Dr. Owen

The consultative document "Priorities for Health and Personal Social Services" suggests as a Government view that local authorities' strategies should be to give sufficient priority to the provision of residential accommodation for children to enable them to be kept out of hospital care unless there is a need for specialist medical and/or nursing care.