Child Care

HC Deb 28 October 1985 vol 84 c377W

Mr. Ashley

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what discussions he has had with local authorities and voluntary organisations about joint funding for the care of children who have left mental hospitals;

(2) in what percentage of cases children who are released from mental hospitals return to the parental or family home;

(3) what steps he is taking to ensure that full and adequate community care is provided for children who are released from mental hospitals;

(4) under which health authorities the children who leave mental hospitals are reviewed for their health, social service and educational needs;

(5) how many children have been admitted to mental hospitals in each of the last five years; and if he will name the hospitals and their locations;

(6) if he will list the record for each regional health authority, in each of the past five years, of releasing children from mental hospitals;

(7) what are the numbers of children in each of the last five years who have ceased to be included in statistics as children in mental hospitals because they reached the age of 16 years;

(8) what has been the change over the last five years in the number of children under the age of 16 years who are in mental hospitals;

(9) how many children under the age of 16 years are in mental hospitals with 25 or more beds; if he will name the hospitals and their locations; and if he will make a statement;

(10) on what date he estimates that all children will be removed from long-stay mental handicap hospitals.

Mr. Whitney

I shall let the right hon. Member have replies as soon as possible.

Mr. Wareing

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has received about his review of child care law; what changes he envisages in the near future; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Whitney

The review of child care law which was the report to Ministers of an inter-departmental working party was published on 4 October as a consultative document. We have asked for comments by 15 January 1986 and will then decide what action to take.