HC Deb 26 October 1989 vol 158 cc531-2W
Mrs. Mahon

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many handicapped children are in long-term hospitals, local authority and voluntary sector care.

Mr. Freeman

Information is, not available in the precise form requested. There are 14 children under 16 identified by regional health authorities in July 1989 as receiving longer-term care in large mental handicap hospitals. In addition there were, at 31 December 1986 (the latest year for which figures are available) 350 children resident in NHS community units for mentally handicapped children.

The number of children in care in accommodation for children with special educational needs at 31 March 1987 was 1,651. Many of these children will have physical and mental handicaps.

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