§ 36. Mr. Edwin Wainwrightasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will take steps to improve the facilities available to parents of children whose mental and physical conditions were gravely impaired at birth; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Geoffrey FinsbergWe are already doing so. Last year we introduced legislation which provides for education authorities to be notified in good time of children with special educational needs and for their parents to be put in touch with voluntary organisations able to give them advice or assistance. This is now on the statute book. We also published a handbook of policies and priorities for the health and personal social services. It is called "Care in Action" and it spells out the priority which the Government attach to the further development of services for mentally, physically and sensorily handicapped people, and to child health services generally. We expect that, as a result of the action we have taken, the new health authorities will be giving priority to the further development of district handicap teams. They will also be strengthening the community child health services and helping parents to make the best provision for these unfortunate children that they can. We recognise that voluntary bodies have an important part to play in supporting families with handicapped children, and last year we gave financial support to a number of them including, for example, over £200,000 to MENCAP arid some £20,000 to the Voluntary Council for Handicapped Children.