HC Deb 29 October 1990 vol 178 cc403-5W
Mr. Wigley

To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether his Department has undertaken or sponsored any research into the development of the hand-tapper communication system for deaf-blind people; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Dorrell

No. I understand that this system is being developed by University college, London and that funding has been provided by the Science and Engineering Research Council and by the Nuffield Foundation and the National Deaf-Blind League.

Mr. Wigley

To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether deaf-blind people are able to get hearing and sight-impaired communication systems through social services.

Mr. Dorrell

Items of equipment for disabled people, including people with a sensory disability, may be provided by health authorities or local authority social services departments. Local authorities have a duty under section 2 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970 to meet the needs of people who, in the opinion of the authority, need an item of equipment to provide for their greater safety, comfort or convenience. Local authorities are empowered to recover all or part of the cost of any equipment they provide. Voluntary organisations also make available a range of specialist equipment for people with a sensory disability.

Mr. Wigley

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many deaf-blind people there are currently residing in long-stay mental handicap hospitals.

Mr. Dorrell

This information is not held centrally.

Mr. Hannam

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what action he intends to take to ensure that professionals working with deaf-blind people receive specialist training;

(2) what steps he intends to take to monitor the response of local social services departments to the social services inspectorate report, "Signposts";

(3) what action he intends to take to encourage local social services departments to implement the recommendations of the social services inspectorate report, "Signposts".

Mr. Dorrell

It is the responsibility of health authorities and local authorities to make arrangements for the training of professional staff. In 1991–92 the specific grant to local authorities for training social services staff will be extended to include staff who work with people who have physical, sensory or mental handicaps and will be increased to support expenditure of £35.5 million.

The recommendations in the report, "Signposts", were discussed at a seminar with directors of social services in October 1989. The seminar, which was co-hosted by the Department of Health, the Association of Directors of Social Services and a number of voluntary organisations, was aimed at promoting models of good practice in the delivery of services for deaf-blind people.

Local authorities will be expected to include in their community care plans services for people with multiple disabilities, including those with a multiple sensory disability. Such community care plans will be open to public inspection. We expect the social services inspectorate will play an active part in inspecting the plans and monitoring performance.