HC Deb 24 January 1972 vol 829 cc345-8W
Mr. Bradley

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he expects to publish the statistical information he has been obtaining from local authorities about services provided under the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act, 1970; and whether he will include the number of telephones provided by each authority amongst this information.

Sir K. Joseph

I am at present reviewing the form of local authority statistics generally to ensure that they are as useful as possible to authorities as well as to central Government. But I do not expect the new information for which I shall be calling—including numbers of telephones—to be available before the Summer of 1973.

Information about the performance of authorities in implementing Section 1 of the Act will be available this Spring.

Mr. Carter-Jones

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) when he intends setting up the small fact-finding group mentioned in the annual report on research and development work on equipment for the disabled 1970, established under Section 22 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act, 1970; if he will publish the names of the group, together with its terms of reference; and if he will make a statement;

(2) if the fact-finding group, established by his Department under Section 22 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act, 1970, will accept oral or written evidence from Members of Parliament; and if he will make a statement;

(3) if the fact-finding group, established by his Department under Section 22 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970, will accept oral or written evidence from recognised international experts in the field of aids for the disabled;

(4) if the fact-finding group, established by his Department under Section 22 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act, 1970, will accept oral or written evidence from recognised well-established voluntary organisations for the disabled in this country.

Mr. Alison

This group consists of a small number of officers of my Department, and began work last November. Its object and programme are set out in paragraph 6 of the report to which the hon. Member refers. It is prepared to receive evidence from any source within its remit.

Mr. Carter-Jones

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if, in the next annual report produced by his Department, under Section 22 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act, 1970, he will include development work done on aids for the disabled, directly and indirectly, by voluntary agencies in this country; and if he will make a statement;

(2) if, in the next annual report produced by his Department, under Section 22 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act, 1970, he will include development work done on aids for the disabled, directly and indirectly, by international voluntary or official organisations, such as the World Health Organisation;

(3) if, in the next annual report produced by his Department, under Section 22 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act, 1970, he will include development work done on aids for the disabled, directly and indirectly, by voluntary or official organisations in other countries.

Sir K. Joseph

I have no power to require voluntary organisations in the United Kingdom or organisations in countries overseas to provide information about their work nor would the report be the appropriate place to include such details even if they were made available. Such organisations are free to publish details of their work if they wish.

Mr. Carter-Jones

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will consider, in the next annual report under Section 22 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act, 1970, the provision of a section on equipment of special interest to elderly people.

Sir K. Joseph

Under Section 22 of the Act I am required to report progress made each year in research and development work carried out by or on behalf of any Minister of the Crown in relation to equipment that might increase the range of activities or well-being of disabled persons. Many developments benefit disabled people irrespective of age but I will draw attention to any whose particular value for the elderly is not evident.

Mr. Carter-Jones

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if, following the publication of the annual report under Section 22 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act, 1970, he will consider holding an annual symposium for interested persons regarding development described in the annual report; and if he will make a statement.

Sir K. Joseph

I propose to await the report of the fact-finding group referred to in the introduction to the report before deciding whether any arrangement of this kind is needed.