HC Deb 30 March 1976 vol 908 cc457-9W
Mr. Kilroy-Silk

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the total number of places available for mentally handicapped persons in adult training centres; what is the number of these mentally handicapped persons waiting for admission; and what is the average waiting time.

Dr. Owen

At 31st March 1975, the latest date for which figures are available, there were 34,245 places available for mentally handicapped persons in local authority adult training centres in England. No national figures are available for the number of mentally handicapped people waiting for admission or for the average waiting time.

Mr. Kilroy-Silk

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps she is taking to improve the education and training of mentally handicapped persons aged 16 years and over (a) nationally and (b) on Merseyside.

Dr. Owen

We are continuing to encourage local authorities to place more emphasis on education, social and work training in the programmes of adult training centres for the mentally handicapped. In addition, the National Development Group for the Mentally Handicapped is currently reviewing guidance for local authorities on the function of these centres in the light of modern thinking and recent research. We have also indicated in the consultative document "Priorities for Health and Personal Social Services in England" that we would like to see maintained, as the first priority for mental handicap, the growth of local authority services, including about 2,400 training centre places a year.

Local authorities in the Metropolitan County of Merseyside are known to be strengthening links between adult training centres and their education departments. It is hoped to start work shortly on schemes to provide 85 additional training centres places in the county.

Mr. Kilroy-Silk

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the total number of places available for mentally-handicapped persons in adult training centres on Merseyside; what is the number of such persons currently waiting for admission; and what is the average waiting time.

Dr. Owen

At 31st March 1975, the latest date for which figures are available, there were 1,750 places available for mentally-handicapped persons in local authority adult training centres in the Metropolitan County of Merseyside. At present, 101 persons are known to be waiting admission to these centres. Waiting times for admission vary according to the circumstances of individual cases.