§ Mr. WigleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what monitoring of the provision of services for mentally handicapped people is taking place in Scotland in line with Her Majesty's Government's response to the second report of the Social Services Committee of Session 1984–85.
§ Mr. Michael ForsythThe report of the Social Services Committee (Session 1984–85) and the Government's response referred to the provision of services in England. As far as Scotland is concerned, the provision of services by health boards for mentally handicapped people is monitored as part of the wider monitoring of boards' implementation of the priorities for the Scottish Health506W Service as set out in the report "Scottish Health Authorities Priorities for the Eighties". The Scottish Home and Health Department has nearly completed the second round of that monitoring.
As regards social work, local authorities' proposals for capital expenditure are considered as part of the wider arrangements for determining capital allocations. Statistical returns showing the development of residential and other schemes are received and published annually. There also are arrangements for assessing progress by local authorities in the development of particular schemes.