HC Deb 01 March 1971 vol 812 cc1213-4
24. Mr. Alec Jones

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the steps being taken by local education authorities in Wales to enable them to implement, as far as primary and secondary schools are concerned, Section 8 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act, 1970.

Mr. Peter Thomas

It will be the responsibility of the individual local education authority to see that the requirements of Section 8 of the Act are observed. Where new schools are being planned it will be expected that the requirements of disabled people will be taken into account at the initial design stage. Authorities will also be considering to what extent their existing educational buildings require modification to improve their accessibility to the disabled.

Mr. Alec Jones

Although I accept that the responsibility is with the local education authorities, will the right hon. Gentleman not appreciate that he must bear some responsibility in trying to ascertain how many chronically sick and disabled children are unable to go to school because schools have not been adapted, and is he not aware that many of the parents of these children are asking what the Government intend to do about it?

Mr. Peter Thomas

My office will do all it can to find out those facts. Any local education authority which requires assistance from my office will receive it.

35. Mr. Coleman

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what advice he has given to local authorities in Wales with regard to the implementation of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act, 1970.

Mr. Gibson-Watt

Advice about the Act was given to all local authorities in Wales in Circular 85/70 issued on 17th August last. I am sending the hon. Member a copy.

Mr. Coleman

Will the hon. Gentleman give an assurance that the Government's policy that the weakest shall go to the wall will not be applied in this case and that, where local authorities do co-operate in the implementation of the Act, finance will be available to enable them to do so?

Mr. Gibson-Watt

If the hon. Gentleman will study the Government's policy, he will realise that the weakest go less to the wall than they did a year ago. When priorities have been settled, local authorities should give full weight to finding solutions to the problems of people handicapped by chronic sickness and the disabled.

Mr. Kinnock

Is the Minister sending the memorandum mentioned in yesterday's Sunday Times to Welsh local authorities? Does he propose to impose in Wales the very restricted, cynical and hard-faced means test on families requiring telephones under the Act? Is he aware that if he does, he will earn the resentment of the whole of the Welsh people?

Mr. Gibson-Watt

I read that article. I assure the hon. Gentleman that in this respect the Government do not intend to act in a restricted, cynical or hard-faced manner.