§ Mr. Alfred MorrisTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what advice she has given local authorities about their duty in law to instal minicoms in the homes of people with severe hearing impairment where need is being assessed and irrespective of whether the individual disabled person already has a telephone; and if she will make a statement.
§ Mr. YeoWe expect local authorities to be aware of their statutory duty, under section 2(1)(h) of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970, to provide assistance to disabled people with the provision of a telephone, and any special equipment needed to use it, irrespective of whether the individual disabled person 161W already has a telephone, where they accept that there is an assessed need. Each case is assessed on its own merits by the local authority.