asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what additional money has now been allocated to mental subnormality hospitals; and what steps are being taken to improve conditions for the staff.

About £1 million in the current year. A considerable part of this sum and of future additional expenditure will be spent on improvements which will benefit staff, such as relief of overcrowding, ancillary help and staff accommodation.

Does the right hon. Gentleman realise that that additional allocation will be warmly welcomed? At the same time, will he pay special attention to the staff in these hospitals who are giving devoted service in very difficult conditions?

I very much appreciate what the hon. Gentleman has said. I wish that more people outside this House, in commenting on these hospitals, would recognise the dedication and devotion of the staff.

Will my right hon. Friend also look at the management of the Service so that assessment facilities in hospitals for children can be improved? The point was made in a recent report that only 4 per cent. of 3,000 children had been assessed in the previous 12 months. Would he look also at the possibility of giving urgent aid to those hospitals which have more than 60 people in wards?

Yes. I am afraid that there are a great many subnormal hospitals where there are over 60 people in wards. We are looking closely at management and also at the membership of hospital management committees.