HC Deb 14 December 1981 vol 15 cc48-9W
Mr. Alfred Morris

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has received concerning failure by the London borough of Wandsworth to fulfil its statutory duties under the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970; if he will list the dates on which he (a) received such representations, (b) wrote to the borough council and (c) received a reply from the council; what was the substance of his letter to the council and of the council's reply; what action he is taking in light of the reply; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Rossi

The Royal Association for Disability and Rehabilitation (RADAR) first wrote to my right hon. Friend on 3 July suggesting that the London borough of Wandsworth were in breach of its statutory duty in the matter of the provision of a telephone for a disabled individual.

Following an exchange of correspondence between the Department and the local authority to clarify the points at issue, I am glad to be able to inform the right hon. Member that the authority has agreed to arrange for a telephone to be provided for the individual concerned in the near future. I would like to point out that the London borough of Wandsworth has an excellent record of this type of provision for disabled people which is well above the average for inner London boroughs.