HC Deb 13 May 1980 vol 984 cc463-5W
Mr. Kilroy-Silk

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services which local authorities have not yet reached the 1971 guideline figures for residential care places in the community for mentally handicapped children.

Sir George Young

The 1971 White Paper " Better Services for the Mentally Handicapped " suggested guidelines of provision to be achieved nationally by the early 1990s, and I would not expect the majority of local authorities to have achieved these yet. At 31 March 1979, the latest date for which statistics are available, the following 12 authorities had achieved the guideline figures:

Cheshire

Bury

Manchester

St, Helens

Staffordshire

Greenwich

Hackney

Lewisham

Southwark

Brent

Hounslow

Kingston upon Thames

Mr. Kilroy-Silk

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services which local authorities have not yet reached the 1971 guidelines figures on day care places for mentally handicapped children under 5 years of age.

Sir George Young

The 1971 White Paper " Better Services for the Mentally Handicapped ", suggested guidelines of provision to be achieved by the early 1990s, and I would not expect the majority of local authorities to have achieved them yet. Information about day care places for children under 5 years of age is not collected in the form requested.

Mr. Kilroy-Silk

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the total number of places for hospital day treatment of mentally handicapped children.

Sir George Young

I regret that information is not collected centrally in the form requested.

Mr. Kilroy-Silk

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the total number of places for residential care for mentally handicapped children by (a) local authority, (b) voluntary and (c) privately-owned residential homes; and how many are provided by foster homes, lodgings, and so on.

Sir George Young

Information on residential accommodation for mentally handicapped children is in the DHSS publication " Homes and Hostels for the Mentally I11 and Mentally Handicapped at 31 March 1978 " which is in the Library of the House. The 1980 edition of this publication containing the figures for 31 March 1979 will be placed in the Library by the end of this month.

Mr. Kilroy-Silk

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the total number of day care places provided for mentally handicapped children under 5 years of age.

Sir George Young

I regret that information is not collected centrally in the form requested.

Mr. Kilroy-Silk

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is satisfied with the provision of hospital and community services for mentally handicapped children; and what steps he is taking to improve them.

Sir George Young

The services provided by health and local authorities for the mentally handicapped have in general improved in recent years, but I accept that much remains to be done. The responsible authorities are aware of my right hon. Friend's concern for the mentally handicapped and other vulnerable groups.