§ Mr. Alfred Morrisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what further action is being taken to implement the recommendations of the Silver Jubilee Committee on improving access for disable people; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. PrenticeI have now received the views of the Association of County Councils and the Association of District Councils on those recommendations in the report which are specifically directed at local authorities. They are broadly favourable while noting that some expenditure would be required to implement them and that this could cause difficulties for local authorities. All authorities have received copies of the report, and to my knowledge some have already taken action by appointing "access officers" or specifically encouraging designers and developers to take account of disabled people's access needs. Several local access groups have also been established.
596Wpatient to doctor ratio in accident departments in the Greater Manchester area; and if he will list, in order, the busiest accident departments in the Greater Manchester area.
§ Dr. VaughanThe information needed to calculate patient to doctor ratios in accident and emergency departments is not available centrally. Following is the number of attendances at accident and emergency departments in Greater Manchester in 1978.
On the recommendation concerning the access provisions of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment is considering whether there would be any advantage in incorporating at least a part of the new British Standard code of practice on access to buildings for disabled people into building regulations.
The other recommendations have mostly been met with the establishment of the committee on restrictions against disabled people, which is vigorously pursuing its task of improving awareness about access and of looking into the question of discrimination against disabled people.