Disabled Persons

HC Deb 27 July 1981 vol 9 cc817-8

35. Mr. Welsh

asked the Lord Privy Seal what extra money has so far been allocated to the Third world countries to help the disabled in those countries in the International Year of Disabled People.

Mr. Neil Marten

Many of the projects funded under our regular aid programme contribute directly or indirectly to the welfare of the disabled in the developing world and help to prevent disability, in particular some of those we fund jointly with voluntary agencies. Recent jointly funded projects include support for the Chittagong eye hospital and for training of doctors in cataract operations in Bangladesh in collaboration with the Royal Commonwealth Society for the Blind; for the Cheshire Foundation and for the establishment of a rehabilitation centre in Zimbabwe and for a "Stop Polio" campaign in Lesotho in conjunction with the Save the Children Fund.

Mr. Welsh

Does the right hon. Gentleman agree that the spending of £34,000 on a rehabilitation centre was made instead of contributing to the United Nations voluntary trust fund? Is the Minister aware that the treasurer has discovered that he has vast resources to spend on different schemes? Does he agree that in this International Year of Disabled People more money should be spent by this country on those unfortunate people? Will he inform the House what he is doing to squeeze more money out of the Treasury for that purpose?

Mr. Marten

We have no central aid allocation within the aid programme. There is, therefore, no pocket of money set aside for the disabled. However, about 10 per cent. of our overall aid programme is devoted to help such activities, which are intended in one way or another to prevent disability.

Mr. Rhodes James

Is not the remarkable success of the "Stop Polio" campaign in Southern Africa a very good example of what can be done by an imaginative small British charity working in a crucial area?

Mr. Marten

Yes, Sir. I entirely agree with my hon. Friend. The "Stop Polio" campaign of the Save the Children Fund is a magnificent conception and is being executed remarkably well.