§ Mr. Kilroy-Silkasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps he is taking and proposes to take to relocate the mentally handicapped children in hospital.
§ Sir George YoungIn a speech on 10 December to the National Society for Mentally Handicapped Children and Adults my right hon. Friend stated unequivocally that large hospitals do not provide a favourable environment for a mentally handicapped child to grow up in. As well as urging health authorities to identify children who do not need specialised health care my right hon. Friend has asked officials of the Department to look at, in consultation with all those concerned, including voluntary bodies, alternatives to hospital care with a view to producing guidelines for authorities. Also, to encourage local initiatives and fund raising activities, he has offered up to £1 million over the next four years to match on a £1 for £1 basis funds raised specially for suitable local projects to help get mentally handicapped children out of hospital.
§ Mr. Kilroy-Silkasked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he proposes to establish the joint reviews by health, social services and education staff of the conditions under which mentally handicapped children are being cared for in hospital, as promised in October 1978.
§ Sir George YoungI am deeply concerned that those mentally handicapped children who are in hospital should receive the best possible standards of care. But it is for the responsible authorities—using the publications of the national development group and other material together with the services of the development team for the mentally handicapped, and so on—to decide how best to improve 81W standards within their locality. I do not believe that it would be beneficial for the Government to impose a particular arrangement, such as a system of joint reviews, on authorities as a whole and, as the hon. Member will see from my reply to his earlier question today, I am suggesting a different approach.