§ Mr. SweeneyTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what financial support is available to assist individuals with a mental handicap and their families in Wales and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Gwilym JonesUnder the Welsh Office's very successful mental handicap strategy, a special allocation of £48 million has been made in 1993–94 to support the development of help for mentally handicapped individuals and their families in Wales. This is an increase of 15 per cent. on the 1992–93 allocation of £41.5 million, making a total of over £200 million since the strategy began in 1983.
Special grants for 1993–94 have been made as follows:
366W
To the county teams £ million Clwyd 5.564 Dyfed 4.028 Gwent 7.203 Gwynedd 5.525 Mid Glamorgan 7.104
£ million Powys 1.941 South Glamorgan 5.987 West Glamorgan 5.583
As direct funding to voluntary organisations £ MENCAP 84,000 Catholic Children's Society 8,000 Standing Conference of Voluntary Organisations 156,000 Additionally, the balance of the special grant will be allocated to fund resettlement and new, innovative developments.
I can confirm that the mental handicap strategy will continue as a vital part of community care. I am confident that the excellent achievements of the strategy provide a firm foundation for the years ahead.