§ Q23. Mr. Wigleyasked the Prime Minister (1) what events Her Majesty's Ministers will attend in an official capacity to mark 1981 as the International Year of Disabled People;
(2) what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government regarding the involvement of Her Majesty's principle Ministers in events associated with the International Year of Disabled People.
§ The Prime MinisterIt is too early to forecast what events Ministers will attend throughout 1981, but I am sure they will wish to mark the International Year in many ways.
§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Prime Minister whether she will give the reasons given to her by Mr. Colin Low president of the National Federation of the Blind, for his refusal to accept her invitation to attend the public reception she recently gave to mark the International Year of Disabled People.
§ The Prime MinisterA copy of Mr. Low's letter and of my reply have been placed in the Library.
§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Prime Minister if she has studied the information pack from the International Year of Disabled People Committee (England); and if she will make a statement of the policy of Her Majesty's Government in respect of those parts of the pack which will require Government implementation in order to be effective.
§ The Prime MinisterI was glad to receive the information pack. I have made it clear that the Government support the aims of the International Year. We see it as providing a special opportunity to take stock and to discuss the improvements we all want to see when resources become available. Some of the suggestions made in the pack are already being actively considered, and the others will be examined. I should make it clear that the possibility of implementing those involving additional public expenditure is governed by the availability of resources. In relation to action by local government, it is the Government's policy that individual local authorities should be free to allocate their funds in accordance with local needs and conditions.
§ Mr. Hannamasked the Prime Minister whether she has received the information pack from the International Year of Disabled People Committee (England); and what measures the Government are taking to implement the aims of the year.
§ The Prime MinisterI was glad to receive the information pack. I have made it clear that the 207W Government support the aims of the International Year. We see it as providing a special opportunity to take stock and to discuss the improvements we all want to see when resources become available. Some of the suggestions made in the pack are already being actively considered, and the others will be examined. I should make it clear that the possibility of implementing those involving additional public expenditure is governed by the availability of resources. In relation to action by local government, it is the Government's policy that individual local authorities should be free to allocate their funds in accordance with local needs and conditions. For information about activities already planned by individual Departments, I refer my hon. Friend to replies given by my right hon. and hon. Friends to a number of questions from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Wythenshawe (Mr. Morris), on 19 January.