HL Deb 23 June 1980 vol 410 cc1465-8WA
Baroness VICKERS

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will state what action is being taken in regard to the International Year of the Handicapped 1981.

Lord CULLEN of ASHBOURNE

The Government fully support the aims of the International Year of Disabled People and will do all they can to ensure the success of the Year. An interdepartmental official steering group has been established to co-ordinate the response to the Year of central Government and the statutory agencies. The Government expect, however, the main response to the Year to come from the voluntary and private sectors. For this reason the National Council for Voluntary Organisations has been given a Government grant to provide the secretariat for a Voluntary Organisations Committee which will stimulate and co-ordinate the voluntary sector response to the Year. This committee is well advanced in its preparations.

Baroness VICKERS

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What action has been taken to form an Official Steering Committee for the intended International Year of Disabled People, and who its chairman and members will be.

Lord CULLEN of ASHBOURNE

The Official Steering Group for the Year first met in June 1979, although much of its business has been conducted by correspondence. The chairman is an Assistant Secretary from the Department of Health and Social Security, which also provides the secretariat.

The following bodies are represented on the Group:

  • Association of County Councils,
  • Association of Municipal Authorities,
  • Department of Education and Science,
  • Department of the Environment,
  • Department of Health and Social Security,
  • Department of Health and Social Services (Northern Ireland),
  • Department of Transport,
  • King's Fund Centre,
  • Manpower Services Commission,
  • National Health Service,
  • Scottish Home and Health Department,
  • Welsh Office.

Where appropriate, other Government departments will be involved on an ad hoc basis.

Observers from the English, Welsh and Northern Irish Voluntary Organisations Committee and the Scottish Joint Committee receive papers and are welcomed to the meetings.

Baroness VICKERS

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Who are the members of the NCVO Voluntary Organisations Committee for the International Year of Disabled People; and how the Official Steering Committee for the same purpose will work with voluntary organisations.

Lord CULLEN of ASHBOURNE

The members of the English Voluntary Organisations Committee are as follows:

  • Mr. Kit Aston (Chairman),
  • The Rt. Hon. Jack Ashley, M.P.,
  • Sir Richard Attenborough,
  • Mr. Quentin Crewe,
  • Mr. Norman Croucher,
  • Ms. Ann Darnborough,
  • Ms. Nicole Davoud,
  • Professor Hugh Glanville,
  • Mr. Christopher Glyn,
  • Mr. Larry Gostin,
  • Ms. Jacqueline Grant,
  • Lady Hamilton,
  • Rev. David Harding,
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  • Mr. B. M. Hargreaves,
  • Mr. Colin Low,
  • Lady Jean MacKenzie,
  • Baroness Masham of Ilton,
  • Mr. Brian Rix,
  • Mr. Bill Shield,
  • Mr. Ronald Travers,
  • Lord Wakehurst,
  • Mr. Duncan Watson,
  • Ms. Rosalie Wilkins,
  • Mr. Stephen Crampton (Secretary).

The following are observers:—

  • Mr. Mansel Davey,
  • Mr. David Dunsmuir,
  • Mr. James Loring,
  • Mr. Morwood Meldrum,
  • Mrs. Diana Twitchin,
  • Mr. George Wilson,

The Chairman and Secretary of the Official Steering Group.

In addition to the links between the Voluntary Organisations Committee and the Official Steering Group, through their observers, the secretaries are in close and frequent contact.

House adjourned at ten minutes before eight o'clock.