asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he is satisfied with the services available for mentally handicapped persons in the Ormskirk area; and what steps he proposes to take to improve the available facilities and services;(2) what provision will be made for mentally handicapped persons in the Ormskirk area in need of the facilities of an adult training centre and hostels now the projects for a training centre and a hostel have been deferred by the Lancaster County Council.

The level of provision for the mentally handicapped in Ormskirk is not as good as I would wish. Priorities for the improvement of services within the limited resources available are for the local and health authorities to decide, within the framework of my Department's guidance on national priorities. The county council has no further proposals at present for extending hostel and training centre provision in the Ormskirk area. The Lancashire Area Health Authority is providing a new child development and assessment centre which will come into operation shortly and, for the longer term, is considering the provision of additional hospital day facilities for children.

asked the ecretary of State for Social Services if he will publish the report of the Development Group for the Mentally Handicapped in St. Margaret's Hospital, Great Barr.

The Development Team report to authorities which seek its advice, with copies to my Department. Any further distribution of its reports is at the discretion of the receiving authorities.