HC Deb 01 February 1982 vol 17 c18W
Mr. Alfred Morris

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total extra cost to his Department of its contributions to the International Year of Disabled People.

Sir Geoffrey Howe

Additional aids for the Treasury's disabled staff were provided during the International Year of Disabled People 1981 through the Property Services Agency and through an external training course of which the cost to the Treasury Vote was minimal. The Central Computer and Telecommunications Agency purchased equipment that translates short documents into braille for blind computer programmers employed in the public service; this equipment cost £9,000. The package of measures designed to help disabled people, which I announced in my 1981 Budget speech, is expected to cost the Exchequer £3–3½ million in 1981–82 and about £7 million per annum in later years.