§ Lord HYLTONasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether it is true that redundant children's homes in Warwickshire cannot be used as hostels for mentally-handicapped people who are at present unnecessarily accommodated in hospitals; if so, whether this indicates a serious lack of flexibility as between local authority social service departments and centrally funded area health authorities (and perhaps other Government departments too); and what steps they 1134WA will take to ensure that available buildings are used to the greatest benefit of people in need, bearing in mind cost-effectiveness and the importance of transcending departmental boundaries and budgets.
§ Lord CULLEN of ASHBOURNELocal authorities are responsible for providing personal social services support for mentally handicapped people not requiring hospital care, and there is nothing to prevent Warwickshire County Council, if they wished, from using their redundant children's homes as hostels for mentally handicapped persons. Health authorities may not permanently finance personal social services projects, but substantial contributions can be made over a period under the joint financing arrangements.