§ 11. Dr. Vaughanasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what plans he has in relation to the amount of money available to the Rowntree Trust to assist disabled children.
§ Mr. AlisonI have nothing to add to the statement which my right hon. Friend 186 made during the debate on 29th November last about the provision of additional money for the fund.
§ Dr. VaughanWould my hon. Friend agree that there is a great deal of interest not only among the general public but among professional organisations about how this money is being distributed and what criteria are being used in its distribution? Would it not be helpful if the Rowntree Trust gave more information?
§ Mr. AlisonI am glad to reassure my hon. Friend. The trust has distributed 20,000 of its explanatory leaflets to local authorities, voluntary bodies and individuals and is about to distribute a further 10,000. It has also received a large number of written and telephoned inquiries which suggest that the publicity is getting across.
§ Mr. Alfred MorrisHow did the Government arrive at the figure of £3 million as the amount of this fund? How many children will benefit? How can we possibly judge the adequacy of the fund if we do not know how many children will benefit?
§ Mr. AlisonIt is a useful start. The hon. Gentleman will recall, in the context of the thalidomide children, that it is possible when these cases have been settled out of court that consideration might be given to the question of an additional fund.