§ 31. Mr. O'Halloranasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many elderly and disabled people are supplied with telephones by local authorities under the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act; how many are entitled to such provision; and what steps he is taking to see that local authorities give priority to providing this service where necessary.
§ Mr. Rossi:In the year ending 31 March 1980, local authorities supplied telephones in some 13,000 cases and at that date some 95,000 rentals were being paid. It is up to each local authority to assess the needs of individuals for this service and to make the necessary provision.