§ 67. Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is satisfied with the arrangements for financial support for disabled people who make substantial modifications to their own homes and thus obviate the need for residential care.
§ Mr. Alfred MorrisUnder Section 2 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970 a local authority has a duty to make arrangements for a disabled person's home to be adapted where it is 637W satisfied of the need for modification. Between 1972–73 and 1975–76 the number of home adaptations carried out by social services departments has risen by almost 70 per cent. Thus local authorities have shown themselves to be increasingly aware of the importance of housing adaptations despite the resource constraints under which they are having to operate. I shall continue to give them advice and help whenever appropriate.
My hon. Friend will be aware of the consultative paper circulated by my Department, the Department of the Environment and the Welsh Office which proposes certain changes in the arrangements for providing adaptations. As my hon. Friend will also know, the Housing Act 1974 also introduced special assistance for disabled people in relation to adaptations under the improvement grant scheme.