§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what information he has on the number of local authorities which are (a) retaining the £7 telephone rebate themselves, (b) sharing it or (c) paying it wholly to handicapped people whose rental the council is meeting under Section 2 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. EnnalsI do not have the details asked for by my hon. Friend, but I understand from the Post Office that the rebate is a general refund of the excess profit from telephone charges as a whole, 547W and does not have components proportional to rental and call charges. If the local authority and the disabled person wish to apportion the rebate, this is a matter for them to determine for themselves. I am glad to have the opportunity to reiterate my hope that local authorities will use any such rebates retained by them on services for disabled people.