§ Mr. Fittasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what action has been taken by the area health boards in Northern Ireland to identify the needs and numbers of disabled people in the Province.
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§ Mr. Concannon, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 6th July 1976; Vol. 914, c. 512–15], gave the following information:
The health and social services boards have not yet in general had the staffing and other resources to undertake formal surveys of the needs and numbers of disabled people in their areas, but are in contact with and providing services for a large number of disabled people.
§ Mr. Fittasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list those sections of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970 which extend to Northern Ireland.
§ Mr. Concannon, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 6th July 1976; Vol. 914, c. 512–15], gave the following information:
Section 9, section 23, and section 14 in so far as this section relates to the appointment of persons to be members of the Post Office Users' Councils.
§ Mr. Fittasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what information concerning services available to disabled people in Northern Ireland has been published by each area health board; and what action they have taken to ensure that the information reaches those for whom it is intended.
§ Mr. Concannon, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 6th July 1976; Vol. 914, c. 512–15], gave the following information:
Extensive use is made of the Northern Ireland Department of Health and Social Services' booklet "Help for Handicapped People" which is made available to the public through the social services offices of the Health and Social Services Boards and the Department's social security offices. Information about services available to disabled people is also communicated through board staff and voluntary organisations. The Northern and Western Boards are producing booklets which will describe the services available in their areas.
§ Mr. Fittasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many meals were provided (a) in the home and (b) in day centres for elderly and disabled 703W people by each area health board in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years; what rate these figures represent per 1,000 population per day; what were the total figures and rates in Northern Ireland and England, respectively, in each year; what action he is taking to improve the service; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Concannon, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 6th July 1976; Vol. 914, c. 513–15], gave the following information:
The latest available statistics relate to a sample week during the year ended 31st December 1974 during which health and social services boards provided meals to recipients in their homes as follows:
Board Number Eastern Health & Social Services Board 4,000 Northern Health & Social Services Board 806 Southern Health & Social Services Board 1,045 Western Health & Social Services Board 629 6,480 During 1974 figures were not recorded for meals served in luncheon clubs and day centres, but on a sample week in 1974 the number of meals being served, including those delivered to homes and those being provided by voluntary agencies, numbered 11,000. This represents a rate per day per 1,000 population of 1.42; based on a five-day week. Only total numbers of the meals provided by the former welfare authorities in earlier years are available. These are as follows:
Year Number 1970 … … 2,978 1971 … … 3,173 1972 … … 3,946 1973 … … 4,994 Subject to the limited resources available in the next few years for the development of the health and personal social services, an interim target scale of provision has been set for planning purposes. This is 200 meals per week per 1,000 of the elderly population to be supplied either by delivery of meals on wheels or served in day centres or luncheon clubs.
Figures and rates of provision in England are matters for my right hon. 704W Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services.
§ Mr. Fittasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many adaptations have been arranged in the homes of disabled people by each area health board in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years; what rate each figure represents per 1,000 population; what were the total figures and rates in Northern Ireland and England, respectively, in each year; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Concannon, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 6th July 1976; Vol. 914, c. 513–15], gave the following information.
The latest available statistics relate to the year ended 31st December 1974, during which it is estimated that health and social services boards assisted with structural adaptations to the homes of disable people as follows:
Health and Social Services Board Number of structural adaptations Rate per 1,000 population Eastern … 178 0.26 Northern … 141 0.39 Southern … 56 0.21 Western … 43 0.18 Northern Ireland … 418 0.27 The total numbers of structural adaptations provided by the former welfare authorities in earlier years are as follows:
Year Number of structural adaptations Rate per 1,000 population 1970 … … … 129 0.08 1971 … … … 107 0.07 1972 … … … 141 0.09 1973 … … … 224 0.14 Information on adaptations to houses by local authority social services departments in England is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services.
New administrative arrangements have recently been introduced between health and social services boards and the Northern Ireland Housing Executive to facilitate structural adaptations for handicapped people living in Housing Executive dwellings.
§ Mr. Fittasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many aids have been supplied to elderly and disabled 705W people by each area health board in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years; what rate each figure represents per 1,000 population; what were the total figures and rates for Northern Ireland and England respectively, in each year; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Concannon, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 6th July 1976; Vol. 914, c. 513–15], gave the following information.
The latest available statistics relate to the year ended 31st December 1974, during which it is estimated that health and social services boards provided aids as follows:
Health and Social Services Board Number of Aids Rate per 1,000 Population Eastern 2,500 3.68 Northern 1,333 3.70 Southern 864 3.23 Western 345 1.44 Northern Ireland 5,042 3.26 The total numbers of aids provided by the former welfare authorities in earlier years are as follows:
Year Number of Aids Rate per 1,000 Population 1970 … … 1,619 1.06 1971 … … 2,204 1.44 1972 … … 2,598 1.68 1973 … … 3,566 2.30 Information on the provision of aids by local authorities in England is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services.
§ Mr. Fittasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if any health board in Northern Ireland does not include a 706W disabled member; and if he will appoint such a member to any which does not.
§ Mr. Concannon, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 6th July 1976; Vol. 914, c. 514–15], gave the following information.
Places on the health and social services boards have not been provided specifically for disabled persons or for other particular groups as it is impossible to provide places for representatives of all the various groups who receive care through the health and personal social services. The needs of the disabled can, however, be brought to the attention of the Boards through their membership, their staff and professional advisory committees, as well as by voluntary organisations and the district committees which represent consumer interests.
§ Mr. Fittasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he is satisfied that the needs of disabled people in Northern Ireland are both being identified and met, as is required by law in the rest of the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. Concannon, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 6th July 1976; Vol. 914, c. 514–15], gave the following information.
The document, "Strategy for the Development of Health and Personal Social Services in Northern Ireland", which was published by the Northern Ireland Department of Health and Social Services last year, indicated that community social services for the handicapped will be among the priorities for future development. I am satisfied that efforts are being made to improve services for the handicapped as quickly as financial and manpower resources permit.