§ Mrs. Chalkerasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is satisfied with the assessment for retraining facilities operated by his Department for physically and mentally handicapped persons; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MoyleRetraining in social and daily living skills is provided by medical rehabilitation departments in hospitals and by local authorities and voluntary bodies. For mentally handicapped persons social and work training is provided either in local authority adult training centres or in hospitals for the mentally handicapped. As with other health and social services demand is not evenly met in all areas and there are shortages of trained staff. In my Department's advice on priorities for the health and personal social services, having regard to limitations on growth of public expenditure, the development of rehabilitation services in general and of occupation and training facilities for the mentally handicapped has been recommended as a priority.