§ Baroness Fisher of Rednalasked Her Majesty's Government:
What action they intend to take following the several reports of the National Development Team where they found evidence of poor facilities, staff shortage and chronic shortage of cash in the hospitals for the mentally handicapped.
§ Lord TrefgarneDevelopment team reports are made to the health and local authorities concerned, and they need to consider the reports and decide what action to take in the light of the resources available to them. Where urgent action is indicated, priorities should be ordered accordingly. We expect health authorities to maintain and, where possible, improve standards in mental handicap hospitals, as well as making every effort, in co-operation with the relevant local authorities, to move those people who do not need hospital care to more appropriate accommodation in the community. The department monitors plans and their implementation through a variety of channels.