§ 35. Mr. William Hamiltonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will recommend the appointment of a Royal Commission to consider all the problems, social, educational, medical, and relating to employment concerning the care and treatment of all handicapped children.
§ Sir K. JosephNo. Benefits and services provided both for handicapped people generally and their families are constantly under review, and there is close and continuing liaison between the Departments concerned about the needs 179W of handicapped children. I do not therefore consider that such an inquiry is needed either to promote co-ordination or to bring about an improvement in provision for this group.
§ Mr. Parkinsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) whether there is a maximum figure envisaged for a cash grant to families applying for assistance from the Government's £3 million trust fund for handicapped children;
(2) whether he intends to take into account family circumstances in the granting of assistance from the Government's £3 million trust fund for handicapped children; and, if so, what form of means test will apply;
(3) how many families he estimates will be eligible to apply for assistance from the £3 million Government trust fund for handicapped children.
§ Sir K. JosephThe amount payable in any case is a matter for the Joseph Rown-tree Memorial Trust, and I have not laid down any maximum figure. It is not possible to say how many families are eligible to receive help, but while the trust will take account in each case of the economic and social circumstances of the family, it does not intend to apply any formal means test.