§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what action he is taking to improve the quality of the submissions by his Department to the annual reports pursuant to Section 22 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970 concerning research and development work on equipment that might be of benefit to disabled people; and if he will ensure that possible spin 330W offs from technological advances are not overlooked.
§ Mr. Moyle, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 7th April 1976; Vol. 909, c. 199], gave the following information:
Section 22 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970 does not extend to Northern Ireland and Northern Ireland Departments do not, therefore, make contributions to the annual reports called for by that section. However, research and development work on equipment for the disabled is essentially a national concern; the benefits of any technological advances which arise from national research and development in this field would be available to disabled people throughout the United Kingdom, including Northern Ireland.