asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many local authorities are making no direct residential provision for mentally handicapped children, excluding voluntary or private provision.

35 local authorities in England did not record provision for mentally handicapped under the age of 16 in local authority residential accommodation at 31st March 1977.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he proposes to issue health authorities and local authorities with guidance on admission of mentally handicapped children to long-stay hospital care.

My Department has drawn up a draft circular of guidance which will be sent to authorities and organisations for comment as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the current weekly cost per mentally handicapped child in a local authority hostel.

The estimated average weekly cost in 1977–78 in England was £86·24. This figure, which excludes capital charges and central administrative costs, is the latest available, and is derived from the Social Services Statistics Estimates for that year, published by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy, a copy of which is in the Library.