§ Dr. Roger Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Social Services, in the light of the conclusions of Dr. Reedy of Newcastle university health unit that the transfer of handicapped people, particularly the difficult mentally handicapped cases, into the community should be carried out carefully and selectively and a pilot scheme evaluated before mass change of policy, if he will make a statement on Government policy on this matter.
§ Mr. Geoffrey FinsbergI have not seen Dr. Reedy's conclusions, but I would agree that any transfer of mentally handicapped people from hospital to the community should be done carefully.
A variety of schemes is needed to meet different needs and circumstances and many mentally handicapped patients have already been successfully transferred under schemes which have been or are being evaluated.