HC Deb 30 June 1986 vol 100 c434W
Mr. Carter-Jones

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if, in preparing guidelines on minimum standards of services and provision for people with mental handicap, he will take into account the stamina paper No. 7 published by MENCAP, a copy of which has been sent to him.

Mr. Whitney

MENCAP's stamina paper No. 7 "Care in the Community for People who are Mentally Handicapped" provides guidelines for MENCAP local societies to help them to discuss with statutory authorities how local services can be improved. Our guidance to health and local authorities already emphasises the need to inform and consult parents, and the role of local voluntary organisations. In our consideration of the extent to which further guidance from the Department to authorities would be welcome and useful, we will take full account of stamina paper No. 7. This paper has also been brought to the attention of the national development team for mentally handicapped people, which advises health and social services authorities on their services for mentally handicapped people and their own self-monitoring arrangements.

Mr. Carter-Jones

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if, in preparing guidelines on leisure activities for people with a mental handicap, he will take into account the recent MENCAP report, a copy of which has been sent to him;

(2) if, in preparing guidelines on daytime services for people with a mental handicap, he will take into account MENCAP's publication "Day Services Today and Tomorrow," a copy of which has been sent to him.

Mr. Whitney

The Department's resource guide to day services for mentally handicapped people, now in preparation, will take full account of both documents.

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