§ Mr. Skinnerasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many disabled and elderly people received home help service in 1979, 1980 and to the most recent date in 1981 for which figures are available;
(2) what information he has as to the number of disabled and elderly people who received home help service in the county of Derbyshire in 1979, 1980, and to the nearest available date in 1981.
§ Mr. Geoffrey FinsbergThe numbers for the years to 31 March 1979 and 31 March 1980 were as follows:
six years 1963–68, 54 cases of retrolental fibroplasia were identified in England and Wales among children registered as blind. For the individual years 1969–80 the available figures in respect of England only are as follows:
119W
Year ending 31 March Male Female Total 1969* 3 10 13 1970* 2 5 7 1972 7 7 14 1973 8 8 16 1974 8 7 15
Year ending 31 March Male Female Total 1975 3 6 9 1976 6 4 10 1977 7 1 8 1978 1 1 2 1979 2 3 5 1980 6 2 8 *31 December (Figures in respect of 1971 are included in the return for 1972)
Notes
1.Figures were obtained by examining the medical certificates (BD8) which were copied to the Department.
2.The percentage of BD8 certificates copied to the Department has fallen from nearly 100 per cent. in 1970 to around 65 per cent. in 1976 and has continued at about that level since.
3.Certificates for 12 months ending 31 March 1981 are currently being processed.