§ Mr. HinchliffeTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he intends to review the way in which grants are made available by social services departments for adaptations to the homes of disabled people.
§ Mr. DorrellThere are no plans to change the duty of social services departments under section 2 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970 to make arrangements for adaptations to the homes of disabled people. In many instances this responsibility is discharged by housing authorities using their powers under part VIII of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989, which introduced disabled facilities grants. Responsibility for the disabled facilities grants system lies with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment. I understand that a review of the new system is under way. Officials from a number of Government Departments, including the Department of Health, are involved in consultations on the exercise. The results should be available early next year.