§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will produce regular reports on the cost benefit value of financial aid to disabled people and their families;
(2) in view of the cost of keeping disabled people in hospitals or institutions, if he will consider transferring such persons into homes of their own where they so wish; and if he will seek power to give them the equivalent of saving in costs to the State;
(3) if he will consider seeking power to give an income to the able-bodied relative who looks after a severely disabled relative; if he will make a study of the comparative costs between care in an institution or hospital and care at home; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. DeanIt is already our policy to arrange for disabled people to be discharged to their own homes whenever the necessary support can be provided there. Social security benefits, including the attendance allowance, may be payable in these circumstances. Cost benefit considerations are only one aspect to be considered, but they are being taken into account in the development of our policies for the disabled.