§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what provision is made for the inspection of special homes for mentally handicapped children.
§ Mr. Patrick JenkinPrivate and voluntary homes for mentally handicapped children are subject to registration and inspection by local authorities by virtue of the Residential Homes Act 1980. In addition, officers of my Department have certain powers of entry, examination and inspection; these are summarised in annex 3 to circular DSWS(79)1, a copy of which is available in the Library, and include powers covering local authority accommodation for mentally disordered people.
§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the total number of mentally handicapped children; how many of them are cared for (a) in special homes, (b) in hospitals and (c) with their own families.
§ Mr. Patrick JenkinThe total number of mentally handicapped children, and accordingly the number of those cared for by their own families, is not known.
183WOn 31 December 1979 there were 2,839 mentally handicapped children under 16 in hospitals, and on 31 March 1980 there were 1,330 such children in local authority residential homes, and 526 in registered private and voluntary residential homes.
§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if any special provision is made for the inspection of hospitals for mentally handicapped children and for those sections of general hospitals in which they may be accommodated.
§ Mr. Patrick JenkinHealth authorities are responsible for the maintenance and monitoring of standards of facilities and care in all their hospitals, including those which accommodate mentally handicapped children. They are assisted in this task by my Department and by the development team for the mentally handicapped.