§ Mr. Alfred Morrisasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been the response so far of local housing authorities to the provisions of Section 3 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act, 1970; what action he him- 336W self is taking to improve the stock of housing accommodation suitable to the needs of severely disabled persons and their families; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Channon85 local authorities in England have submitted proposals for 327 dwellings for the disabled in 93 housing schemes between 29th August, 1970, the date of the coming into force of Section 3 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act, 1970, and 30th September, 1971. In drawing attention to the provision of the Section my right hon. Friends advised housing authorities that where a local authority could not provide specially designed housing for the disabled within the yardstick published under the Housing Subsidies Act, 1967 an ad hoc yardstick figure could be assessed.
My Department, with the co-operation of the Department of Health and Social Security, are carrying out a study of the extent to which the housing needs of the disabled can best be met by adaptation of the person's existing dwelling, by the provision of new housing to Parker Morris standards, or by the provision of new housing specially designed for them.