HC Deb 13 December 1983 vol 50 cc821-2
5. Mr. Wareing

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what measures are being taken by Her Majesty's Government to combat discrimination against disabled people; and what has been the cost of the measures taken to date.

Mr. Newton

The main thrust of Government policy is to promote the integration of disabled people, and in that way to help overcome the obstacles they often face. I recently placed a lengthy list of the Government's activities in this field in the Library of the House following my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Welwyn Hatfield (Mr. Murphy) on 18 November. It is not possible to identify the cost of all the Government's activities relating to this.

Mr. Wareing

Given the Government's now stated objection to legislation which would outlaw discrimination against the disabled, will the Minister promise that there will be a programme of education and persuasion of the general public on the need to avoid such discrimination? Will he ensure that it is much more cost-effective than previous Government campaigns, such as the very expensive propaganda campaign to persuade people to wear seat belts when in the front seats of cars?

Mr. Newton

I hope that I made it plain during the debate on the hon. Gentleman's Bill that I am suspicious of generalised undertakings. The Government will continue to press ahead with what they are doing with regard to social security benefits, access, transport, employment and education, and to deal with specific practical problems which affect specific disabled people. We are making significant progress that goes far beyond any generalised undertakings that I could give to the House.

Mr. Cowans

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker

I shall take points of order after Question Time, as to deal with them now would lessen the time available for Questions.

Mr. Cowans

It is a real point of order.

Mr. Speaker

I shall take it after Question Time.

Mr. Boyes

During the debate on the Bill introduced by my hon. Friend the Member for Liverpool, West Derby (Mr. Wareing) I suggested that deaf people were also discriminated against because there were too few programmes on television which used CEEFAX and other means of putting words on the screen, although the deaf still paid a full licence fee. I asked the Minister to look into that. Will the hon. Gentleman assure the House that he is looking into it, and what progress has been made?

Mr. Newton

I cannot give the hon. Gentleman a progress report now, but I shall certainly look into that. Although we would all like to see more being done, the extent to which the television companies, in particular, have developed their ability to add subtitles to programmes is very encouraging and is greatly welcomed by the deaf.

Mr. Alfred Morris

Leaving aside the Minister's implied criticism of The Spastics Society, he says that he is more interested in a campaign of education and publicity in this area than in legislation. How much is he prepared to spend on education and publicity? When shall we see the colour of his money?

Mr. Newton

I made no criticism, implied or explicit, of The Spastics Society. I simply stated the fact that we had so far received—the number has gone up by three since the debate—21 complaints of discrimination. One or two of those came from The Spastics Society, but we have certainly not had 500 or 600 complaints from it. As to the colour of my money, I wish to make one simple point. I said in the debate that I thought any money available would be better spent on direct help to disabled people. Since the debate I have announced proposals for a new social security benefit which will put £20 million more into the hands of 20,000 disabled people. That is what I mean by practical and flexible steps.