§ Mr. Knoxasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if the report of his Department's study of the needs of the mentally handicapped people with additional handicaps or problems has yet been completed and issued.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeWe have recently issued the report "Helping Mentally Handicapped People with Special Problems" to all health and local authorities and voluntary organisations and groups with an interest in mental handicap. This report was prepared following a study by a multi-disciplinary team of officials assisted by Professor Peter Mittler of Manchester University. The team considered the needs of mentally handicapped people with additional handicaps or problems and different ways of providing, from available resources, an effective service for them and their families. Their report discusses services for mentally handicapped people who have 353W additional sensory handicaps, or who are elderly or behaviourally disturbed, and day services for profoundly and multiply mentally handicapped people. We hope that the report will be of practical assistance to those who are planning and providing services for people with these additional or profound handicaps. It should stimulate further discussion about the services these people need, and promote a better understanding of their needs and those of their families.
Copies of the report have been placed in the Library of the House.