§ 10. Mr. Ioan Evansasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what action is to be taken to publicise the new benefits available to the disabled.
§ Mr. Alfred MorrisAs my hon. Friend is aware, the list of new benefits and other recent improvements for the disabled is both extremely lengthy and wide ranging. Among other improvements, we have legislated for four entirely new cash benefits for the disabled. Publicity began in September for the first of these and included distribution of posters and leaflets, Press advertisements, and the dissemination of information by voluntary bodies. I have also had help from professionally 222 and other interested individuals.
§ Mr. EvansDoes my hon. Friend realise that the actions to help the disabled that the Government have taken since they came to power constitute a success story and that this should be made more widely known, not only to the general public but to the disabled, because some of them do not realise what help the Government have given them? Will he have a word with his right hon. Friend the Secretary of State to ensure that when reductions in public spending are discussed at Cabinet level, cuts will not be made in the benefits that the Government give to the disabled? Is he aware that Labour Members would prefer further cuts in defence expenditure and other unnecessary public spending?
§ Mr. MorrisI am grateful to my hon. Friend. My right hon. Friend emphasises to the maximum of her ability the claims of the disabled. I have had every possible support from her. I agree with my hon. Friend that voluntary organisations can do a great deal to publicise the improvements that have taken place in recent years. I hope that all right hon. and hon. Members will do their best, in their constituencies, to publicise all the new benefits and improvements that have been carried out for the disabled. I refer in particular to the leaflet "Help for the Handicapped" which my Department recently made available to all hon. Members.