§ Sir Bernard Braineasked the Secretary of State for Social Services, whether, in view of the dearth of provision for the special care of severely handicapped young persons after they leave school, he will now make a statement as to the Government's policy in this regard.
§ Mr. MoyleI assume that the hon. Gentleman is referring to special care facilities for severely mentally handicapped young people.
856WThe 1971 White Paper "Better Services for the Mentally Handicapped" indicated that there was scope for development both of special care units by local authorities and of day places in hospitals, as the needs of individual severely mentally handicapped people vary. It also pointed to the desirability of health and local authorities arranging joint provision of appropriate staff and contributions to the running costs. Joint financing has helped progress in a number of places. Planning guidance to social services authorities has stressed the importance of developing day services for the mentally handicapped, including the need to cater for more heavily dependent people. It has called for special attention to be paid to the 16–25 age group.
Revised guidance on good practice in adult training centres is in preparation following consultation on the pamphlet by the National Development Group for the Mentally Handicapped "Day Services for Mentally Handicapped Adults" and, as my right hon. Friend announced in his reply to a Question from my hon. Friend the Member for Aberdeen, North (Mr. Hughes) on 8 March, we are also about to undertake a more general review of our policies on services for the mentally handicapped.—[Vol. 963, c. 814–7.]