§ Mr. Wigleyasked the Secretary of State for Wales whether his Department has received any applications for financial assistance from the funds earmarked to assist with the Vanguard schemes for mentally handicapped services, to help provide staff in county education departments to further that Department's work relating to the education of mentally handicapped young people; and if he will make a statement regarding his Department's policy on this matter.
22W
§ Mr. Wyn RobertsAn application for additional staff for special schools was included by Gwynedd county council as part of its bid in December 1982 for funding of individual schemes in 1983–84 to launch the mental handicap strategy. We did not think it appropriate to approve this type of project in the first year of the strategy but the statutory authorities, representatives of voluntary organisations and families of mentally handicapped people have been asked to draw together an agreed plan for the comprehensive development of the services in the Gwynedd vanguard area during the remaining period of the strategy. Future funding for the vanguard area will be on the basis of the jointly agreed developments which are in keeping with the principles of the mental handicap strategy.