Baroness WARD of NORTH TYNESIDEMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government how many local authorities to date have failed to provide a register of disabled persons, and whether the names of those local authorities can now be published.
§ Lord WELLS-PESTELLMy Lords, I am pleased to be able to report that according to the information collected by my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Social Services all local authorities in England now maintain a register of disabled persons.
Baroness WARD of NORTH TYNESIDEMy Lords, I am very glad indeed to hear that as it will give great pleasure to learn that at last, after a fairly long time, all local authorities now have the register. Does the noble Lord agree that this will be regarded as very satisfactory by all those who are interested in doing everything possible to help the disabled?
§ Lord WELLS-PESTELLMy Lords, it gives me personally a great deal of pleasure that after so long I have been able completely to satisfy the noble Baroness.
§ Lord SEGALMy Lords, will my noble friend consider issuing a list of the total number of disabled persons received from each region?
§ Lord WELLS-PESTELLMy Lords, I will pass that request on to my right honourable friend the Secretary of State, but we really must bear in mind the pressure on Government Departments these days.
§ Viscount SIMONMy Lords, does the carefully worded reply of the noble Lord imply that there are some local authorities in Wales who have not completed their register?
§ Lord WELLS-PESTELLThat implication was not intended, my Lords, if it was given.