§ Mr. Gordon Wilsonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is satisfied with the provision in each health board area of hostel accomodation for the mentally handicapped to enable patients to leave hospital and return 378W to the community.
§ Mr. FairgrieveThe Government believe that mentally handicapped people should, in so far as this is possible, live in the community. In order to secure this objective, I recognise that there is a need for more residential accommodation in many areas. The provision of accomodation is the responsibility of local authorities and its geographical distribution reflects their assessment of the provision which should be made within their areas.
§ Mr. Gordon Wilsonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give a response to the Peters and Jay report on the mentally handicapped in Scotland and indicate what recommendations have been accepted.
§ Mr. FairgrieveThe Peters report was taken into account by the Scottish Health Service Planning Council in preparing its report "Scottish Health Authorities Priorities for the Eighties" (SHAPE). The latter report, which my right hon. Friend commended to the attention of health boards, included provision for the mentally handicapped in the group of services to which top priority should be given. In respect of the Jay report, I refer the hon. Member to the reply by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services to a question on 22 July 1980.—[Vol. 989, c. 218.]