HC Deb 29 March 1971 vol 814 cc1126-8
8. Mr. Carter-Jones

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will call for reports from a sample of Welsh local authorities regarding their implementation of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act, 1970, to date; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Gibson-Watt

It is too early to seek to survey progress. Two Sections of the Act are not yet in force and several others have been in operation for only four months.

Mr. Carter-Jones

I am disappointed with that answer. Considering that the Act has been on the Statute Book since last August, having passed through the House without a Division and having been accepted by both sides, should it not now be implemented?

Mr. Gibson-Watt

With respect, that may be the view of the hon. Gentleman, but the matter is one of some complication. The hon. Gentleman will see that on 11th February my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services gave an answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Tynemouth (Dame Irene Ward) on similar lines to that which I have given today.

Mr. Fred Evans

Will the hon. Gentleman not accept that little encouragement is being given to local authorities to try to do anything about the Act, and, indeed, the Government's attitude is a positive disincentive to action. If the Government will not activate Part I of the Act, does the hon. Gentleman not agree that little or nothing can be expected from local authorities other than what has been done by local authorities in my area, which have paid regard to this matter by starting to compile registers?

Mr. Gibson-Watt

I understand the hon. Gentleman's concern, but I cannot accept everything he says. I would expect the recently formed social services committees of local authorities to be considering the needs of the physically disabled as a matter of priority and the provisions of the Act to be given full weight when competing priorities have been settled.

Mr. Alec Jones

Would the hon. Gentleman bear in mind that the chronic sick and disabled regard the Secretary of State as their watchdog on the provisions of the Act and that they look to him for guidance and the necessary financial assistance to enable local authorities fully to implement the legislation which so affects the people concerned.

Mr. Gibson-Watt

I am grateful for what the hon. Gentleman has said.

9. Mr. Carter-Jones

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make a statement on the implementation of Section 1 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act, 1970, in Wales; and if he will give guidance to Welsh local authorities regarding the collection of information about Section 1 of this Act.

Mr. Gibson-Watt

The Order which is to be introduced shortly to bring Section 1 of the Act into operation on 1st October will apply to Wales. My Department will distribute to Welsh local authorities guidance on the use of survey techniques prepared by the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys.

Mr. Carter-Jones

Is the Minister aware that a survey will not identify one disabled person? Is he further aware that we want to identify actual disabled people in constituencies in Wales and in England and that a survey will not carry out this task? Will he not set an example and let Wales take a lead in this matter?

Mr. Gibson-Watt

The first need is to assess the size and nature of the demand for services under the Act, and, in our view, the use of sampling and survey techniques is the better way to do this.

Mr. Fred Evans

Is not the Minister aware that this cumbersome method of taking sampling surveys is easily got over by enlisting the voluntary help of the Boy Scout movement, which can accomplish the same thing at a cheaper rate and in a shorter time? Will he not urge other local authorities to do what has been done in my area; namely, to prepare leaflets informing all disabled people of their rights under the Act and leaving room for notification on the form of any person in a household so affected? Does he not agree that it is not the compilation of a register but the actual identification of people that matters in this respect, and that the best way to achieve these ends is to harness the help of the many bodies which are willing to undertake this work if they are given a lead by the Government?

Mr. Gibson-Watt

I know full well the hon. Gentleman's interest in this important matter, and I can assure him that the Government are anxious to press on with it. Although I cannot add to my original answer, I will look further into the matter.