24 Mr. R. C. Mitchellasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will have discussions with the Hampshire area health authority concerning provision for the younger disabled.
§ Mr. PrenticeIt is for the Hampshire area health authority (teaching) and Hampshire county council to determine the level of services to be provided for the younger disabled in Hampshire and to establish local priorities. As foreshadowed in Hampshire AHA's strategic plan 1978–79 to 1987–8, a joint care planning team sub-group was set up and has issued a report on services for the physically handicapped in Hampshire. The guidelines in this report have recently been recommended by the area health authority as a basis for future planning and I would not wish to intervene. Officials of the Department are having discussions with the Wessex regional health authority about the overall planning of services for the younger disabled in Wessex and I would expect the results of these discussions to be reflected in due course in the regional strategic plan.