§ 44 and 45. Mrs. Knightasked the Minister without Portfolio (1) what studies he is making into the problems of the elderly;
(2) what studies he is making into the problems of disabled housewives.
§ 47. Mr. Fortescueasked the Minister without Portfolio what studies he is making into the problems of the chronic sick.
§ Mr. Gordon WalkerAll these problems are being studied by the Ministers concerned and I am in close touch with them about these matters, as part of my responsibility for co-ordinating the social services.
§ Mrs. KnightIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that that Answer does not appear to envisage any urgency in the tackling of this problem, which is urgent, particularly in view of the price rises of recent months? Will he try to get more of a smart move on?
§ Mr. Gordon WalkerI am sorry that there was not sufficient urgency in my voice, but there is certainly urgency in my intentions.
§ Mr. MolloyWould not my right hon. Friend agree that being crippled for life is certainly a form of being permanently sick? In his examination of the present decision, will he consider the situation of a person who might be crippled for life because of an accident at home and who is unjustly treated compared with someone crippled for life at work? Does he intend to do anything about that anomalous situation?
§ Mr. Gordon WalkerWe are carefully studying this matter. There are special problems of definition and so on, but we are studying it carefully and we will try to make surveys to discover the extent of the difficulty and how to remedy it.
§ Mr. DeanHow many staff does the right hon. Gentleman have in the Department to assist him in the study of this and similar social problems?
§ Mr. Gordon WalkerI have none in my own Department, but I can and do call upon the staff in the various Ministries whose work I have to co-ordinate. I have never found that that has hampered me in any way. It is much better to do it this way than to multiply officials in my own Department.