§ 9. Mr. Molloyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will call for reports from local authorities on the operation of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act in general.
§ Mr. AlisonAs regards Sections 1 and 2, I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Manchester, Wythenshawe (Mr. Alfred Morris) on 22nd February. We already receive annual returns from authorities in respect of Sections 18 and 19. Other Sections are either not my right hon. Friend's responsibility or do not concern local authorities.—[Vol. 831, c. 257. Vol. 830, c. 60.]
§ Mr. MolloyI am grateful to the Minister for the reply. Some authorities are doing their very best to implement the Act in the manner and spirit that the whole House want to see. As a result, they have been compelled to increase their rates, but some people are opposed to this humane endeavour. Can the hon. Gentleman persuade the Secretary of State to make a public statement complimenting those local authorities which are doing this and condemning those which do not have the courage to do it.
§ Mr. AlisonIt would be premature to make any judgment before we have the full set of returns on Sections 1 and 2.
§ Mr. AshleyThe Secretary of State has shown great understanding to the local authorities in their reorganisation of welfare services. This understanding is now being used by some local authorities as an excuse to avoid their responsibilities. Does the Minister agree that the time has come for persuasion buttressed by pressure from the Secretary of State on those local authorities who are neglecting the Act?
§ Mr. AlisonIt would be appropriate to await the full set of returns for the Act, which we have not yet received. When we have evaluated these, the allegations by the hon. Member and his hon. Friends will be substantiated or disproved.
§ Mr. LaneWill the Under-Secretary continue to keep this problem in perspective by making it clear whenever he has the chance that many local authorities, including Cambridgeshire and the Isle of Ely, are doing much-appreciated work locally, in difficult circumstances, in implementing the Act.
§ Mr. AlisonI am grateful for that helpful support. I believe that all local authorities conduct, with a great sense of responsibility, the statutory duties placed upon them by the Act.
§ Mr. Alfred MorrisOn Section 2(l)(h) of the Act, would the Under-Secretary agree that for large numbers of very severely disabled people the telephone is not a luxury but a lifeline and a necessity? Can he say how his discussions with the Post Office are progressing on the remarkably generous and warm-hearted gesture of the Post Office Engineering Union? On the point concerning protection for members of the P.O.E.U. from industrial injuries, can he assure us that this will be fully met at a very early date?
§ Mr. AlisonIn the last debate on the subject, my right hon. Friend and I expressed our great appreciation and warm welcome to the Post Office unions for their initiative, and in every case in which an offer has been made it is being or has been followed up.