HC Deb 24 November 1983 vol 49 c281W
Mr. Alfred Morris

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his estimate of the extra money local authorities would need to spend annually for the full implementation of section 2 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970.

Mr. Newton

Any realistic estimate of the spending necessitated by that section must take account of the great variety of needs which occur, the different ways in which authorities may decide to meet them and the likely income from discretionary charges. It is not practicable to produce figures on a national basis.

Mr. Alfred Morris

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what is his estimate of the expenditure by local authorities in England in each of the last five years on fulfilling their duties under section 1 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970, respectively (a) to inform themselves of the number and needs of disabled people in their areas and (b) to inform disabled people of the services available to them;

(2) what is his estimate of the number of authorities which are already fulfilling the provisions of Clause 12(1) of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act (Amendment) Bill; if the estimate of £30 million given by the Under-Secretary on 18 November as to the cost of such a provision, Official Report, c. 1131, took account of the fact that in Northern Ireland no legislation previously existed; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Newton

Detailed information on the activities of local authorities in regard to section 1 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970, is not collected centrally.

In order to establish the identity of every disabled person in a local authority area, a detailed house-to-house survey would be required. Unfortunately surveys of this type can be kept up-to-date only by frequent and extensive inquiries. It is probable that even those authorities which had made full surveys in the past would have to repeat them to meet the requirements of the clause. The fact that no legislation existed previously in Northern Ireland was, therefore, regarded as irrelevant.