§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what evidence he has that local authorities have cut the provision of services made for disabled people under the terms of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Alfred MorrisThere has been a general and consistent increase in the provision of services. Expenditure on aids, adaptations to homes and telephones rose from about £2.8 million in 1972–73, the earliest year for which figures are available, to about £8.8 million in 1975–76. Similarly, other services of which disabled and frail elderly people are the main beneficiaries have shown a marked increase. For example, expenditure on meals on wheels has risen from about £4.5 million to about £12.8 million and, on home helps, from about £37 million to about £90 million over the same period. My hon. Friend may also like to know that the number of households helped under Section 2 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act rose from about 185,000 in the year 1972–73 to about 370,000 in 1975–76.