§ Q2. Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Prime Minister if he will make the Minister for the Disabled a member of the Cabinet.
§ The Prime MinisterI refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Christchurch and Lymington (Mr. Adley) on 24th April.
§ Mr. Carter-JonesIs my right hon. Friend aware that if one takes into account the elderly disabled, directly or indirectly about 10 million people in this country are involved in disability? Is he aware that the new techniques of rehabilitation can be applied effectively 648 to the elderly as well? Will he now give a lead by voting a substantial sum of money and effort to the use of these rehabilitation techniques to provide independence for the disabled and their families? Does he agree that that might be in the national interest as well?
§ The Prime MinisterMy hon. Friend will remember that when he and I attended the publication of the book issued by the Minister with responsibility for the disabled a figure close to the one just quoted—I think it was 7 million or 8 million people, including families—was involved. I am sure my hon. Friend will be prepared to pay tribute to what was done for the disabled by this Government. In current terms, benefits for disabled people have increased by way of additional cash resources—that is, the increase—of £750 million per year. Legislation was introduced to provide for three new benefits, the non-contributory invalidity pension, the invalidity care allowance and the non-contributory invalidity pension for housewives. The legislation for a new pension scheme will be of real benefit to a large number of disabled people, as will the legislation for the mobility allowance. At a time of grave economic crisis that is not a bad record in a period of 15 months. I know that my hon. Friend agrees with that because he has undertaken more pioneering in this matter than almost any other hon. Member.
As to the other points raised by my hon. Friend, he must recognise that what we are committed to here must be a question of priorities in accordance with what the economic situation permits.
§ Mrs. ChalkerDoes the Prime Minister agree that many of the problems of the disabled require a multi-disciplinary team, probably under the direction of the Minister with responsibility for the disabled but with the chance to look at the proposed legislation in the other Departments, so that we do not expend money in a way which discriminates against the disabled and later have to spend more money to put the situation right? Would it not be a good idea and save money in the long term, as was suggested by the hon. Member for Eccles (Mr. Carter-Jones)?
§ The Prime MinisterI agree with the hon. Lady. I am sure she would agree 649 that it would not have been possible to make my hon. Friend and his Department responsible for everything affecting the disabled or others in social need. That is why, soon after taking office, I appointed my hon. Friend—in addition to his departmental position—chairman of a committee of Ministers of all the Departments dealing with disablement questions. The hon. Lady is right. This can identify priorities and help in some ways to identify wasteful expenditure. We now hope to extend consideration to the wider field of social service expenditure, about which I hope that before too long we shall have a statement to make to the House.