asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what plans he has to implement the proposals of the Jay committee on mental handicap nursing and care.

Interested bodies were consulted last year about the complex, and in some cases controversial, recommendations made in the report of the committee of inquiry into mental handicap nursing and care, and were asked to let us have their views by the end of December 1979. Careful consideration is now being given to the recommendations in the light of the numerous comments received. No decision will be taken by the Government on the recommendations until this work has been completed.