§ Mr. Kilroy-Silkasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps he proposes to take to ensure that those local authorities that have not yet done so reach the guideline figures on day care and residential places for the mentally ill.
§ Dr. Vaughan, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 19 June 1979 Vol. 968, c. 514], gave the following answer:
I regard the provision of personal social services for the mentally ill as a priority. 328W It has always been expected that progress towards the guideline figures to which the hon. Member refers would take a considerable period of time, but in the field of day care in particular progress so far has been disappointing. One obstacle to progress in day care provision may be a lack of a clear conception of what authorities should be trying to do in this relatively new field, and I am considering whether there is anything I can usefully do to help in this respect.