§ Mr. Humeasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what consideration his Department has given to transferring responsibility for the schooling of mentally handicapped children from the health and social services authorities to the education authorities in Northern Ireland; and what conclusions he has reached;
(2) if he will bring forward legislation to give mentally handicapped children in Northern Ireland a legal right to education.
§ Mr. HurdFollowing public consultation on the issue and after careful consideration of the many views expressed, the Government have decided that responsibility for the education of these children should be transferred to the education service. The Government take the view that it is in the interests of the children concerned for their educational needs to be met through the statutory system of education as it applies to all other children rather than, as at present, through health and social services boards. To give effect to this decision, new legislation will be required and I shall be making the necessary arrangements to bring appropriate proposals before the House in due course.
The transfer of responsibility which this decision will entail will create new demands on the education sector and will also have practical consequences for health and social services boards in terms of service provision and facilities particularly in respect of mentally handicapped adults. The aim will be to make the best possible use of existing resources, but additional funding will also be made available in the light of the different demands facing education and library boards and health and social services boards in consequence of the Government's decision.
A period of detailed planning will be necessary and education and library boards will now be asked to take this 61W forward in conjunction with the health and social services boards and the Departments concerned. This will take some time as will the preparation of the necessary amending legislation. Nevertheless, our aim is to have legislation approved by the end of 1986 and to effect the transfer in the spring of 1987. The legislation proposals will include provision for the protection of staff affected by the decision and their relevant staff organisations will be fully consulted.
§ Mr. Humeasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) if he will make a statement outlining the nature and extent of current provision for the mentally handicapped in Northern Ireland, what the Government's aims and objectives are in making such provision and whether he is satisfied that this provision will meet those objectives;
(2) if he will improve the provision of resources for adult training centres and social education centres for the mentally handicapped in Northern Ireland;
(3) if he will make a statement on the provision of sheltered employment for the mentally handicapped in Northern Ireland;
(4) if he will make a statement on the Government's attitude to and role in the dispute in the Western board area arising from the sole deployment of young help workers as day centre bus assistants and the ICTU directive; and if he will suggest to the board that it employs full staff members to assist those using the buses or redeploy care assistants on short hours to do this work with the support of young help workers;
(5) whether the Government feel it is acceptable or proper for areas of work to be undertaken solely by persons on the young help scheme rather than by permanent staff with the assistance of young helpers.
§ Mr. Chris PattenI shall reply to the hon. Gentleman as soon as possible.