§ Mr. Alfred Morrisasked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how many local authorities pay friends or relatives of young chronic sick and disabled patients between the ages of 16 and 60 years as home-helps ; which are the authorities that do so ; and what average wage these authorities pay for this social service ;
(2) what recommendations he has sent to local authorities on the payment of friends or relatives who care for the young chronic sick and disabled between the ages of 16 and 60 years ; and what response he has had to such recommendations.
§ Mr. RossSo far as I know it is not the general practice of any local authority in Scotland to employ a relative or friend as home help if the service can be108W provided by the normal staff of the Home Help Service. I have not made recommendations that they should alter their practice.
Financial assistance for domestic attendance on very severely disabled persons is proposed to be given in the form of the new attendance allowance announced by the Government in the Command Paper "Proposals for Earnings-related Social Security" (Cmnd. 3883 ; paragraphs 90 and 91).
§ Mr. Alfred Morrisasked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many young chronic sick and disabled people between the ages of 16 and 60 years are in part three accommodation in which geriatric cases are also accommodated ; why they are there ; and in which institutions they are accommodated.
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§ Mr. RossIn January, 1969, there were accommodated in local authority homes for the elderly in Scotland, 187 men under the age of 65 and 80 women under the age of 60 who were materially handicapped by physical infirmity. I am sending the hon. Member a list of the local authority homes concerned. In addition there was a small number of such persons in voluntary homes for the elderly, but details are not available. There is at present insufficient special accommodation for disabled persons, but I hope that more will be provided by both local authorities and voluntary bodies as resources permit.