HC Deb 17 January 1977 vol 924 cc21-2W
Mr. Hannam

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will visit the Honeylands project for handicapped children.

Mr. Moyle

My Department is well aware of this project and is helping to finance associated research. The unit has been visited by officials on a number of occasions and many of them have seen the film "Before the bough breaks …" which describes its work. I have no plans to make a personal visit.

Mr. Hannam

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what consideration he has given to the estimate that a project such as the Honeylands project for handicapped children can reduce the number of children needing permanent hospital care to one-sixth, at a cost per chilld of 16 per cent. of that of hospital care; and if he will make a statement;

(2) if he will advise the chairman of each area health authority in England of the advantages and savings to be derived from projects such as Honeylands in connection with the care of handicapped children.

Mr. Moyle

My Department, together with the Mental Health Foundation and Action Research for Crippled Children, is jointly financing research aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of the service provided by the Honeylands unit. The results are expected in 1978 and I will then consider whether the Honeylands methods can be recommended as a model for future developments of services for handicapped children and their families.