HC Deb 05 December 1966 vol 737 cc916-8
12. Mr. Astor

asked the Minister of Health if he will initiate an inquiry into the overall needs of disabled people and the steps necessary further to co-ordinate the services at present provided by various authorities.

19. Mr. Braine

asked the Minister of Health what steps he is taking to ascertain the needs of the disabled and chronic sick and the steps necessary to improve and co-ordinate the services provided for them by all the authorities concerned.

Mr. K. Robinson

A number of studies of the needs of the disabled or of the services provided for them are in progress or projected, and I see no need for any general inquiry.

Mr. Astor

Would the right hon. Gentleman not agree that the Answer to the last Question indicates a lack of necessary knowledge? Does not the fact that at least seven Ministries are concerned with various aspects of the disabled, as well as local authorities, indicate that there is a great need for us to have a fuller understanding of the problem and for more adequate action to be taken to cure it?

Mr. Robinson

I agree that one of the difficulties about the terms "disablement" and "chronic sick" is that they have no precise meaning. I have sponsored a research project to find an acceptable measure of "disablement" for use in a subsequent prevalence study. A study into the state of the services provided and demanded will, if practicable, be associated with this.

Mr. Braine

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the disabled generally and the chronic sick in particular, who get no constant attendance allowance when at home, are wholly dependent on local authority services, which vary widely in both scope and quality from one part of the country to another? Would it not be helpful, in the framing of policy, for the Minister to co-ordinate what is being done and inaugurate fresh inquiries so that something effective may be done for our fellow citizens?

Mr. Robinson

Many of the chronic sick, particularly the young chronic sick, are dependent on hospital services as well as local authority services. My Standing Medical Advisory Committee has advised me to undertake a survey of the services they receive in hospital. That will be done, and, in addition, my Department is conducting a planning study of the home help service, which is relevant to this problem, and a sub-committee is being set up to review the services for epileptics. This shows that a great deal is being done in this matter.

Mr. Molloy

Would my right hon. Friend indicate that the representations which have been made to him and which may be made in future by the Disablement Income Group will be afforded full and authoritative examination?

Mr. Robinson

I should, perhaps, refer my hon. Friend to the reply which my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Plymouth, Sutton (Dr. David Owen) on 17th November.

Dr. Winstanley

Would the Minister not agree that he has himself outlined the difficulty here in that there are so many different organizations—hospitals, home helps, local authorities and seven Ministries—involved in providing these services? Would he, therefore, not agree that there is a real and urgent need for integration under somebody like a disabled persons' officer?

Mr. Robinson

No, Sir. I do not think that that would be the solution to this problem. The two areas to which I referred are both under my Departmental responsibility, and I do not believe that there is any serious lack of co-ordination there.