§ Mr. Hannamasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on the progress of the new full-scale survey of disabled people.
§ Mr. NewtonThe survey is being conducted by the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys whose experience and expertise in this field are widely acknowledged. Following OPCS's extensive pilot work and our Department's wide consultation with interested organisations—to whom we are very grateful for their help—the main stage of the survey begins on 1 March. This involves delivery of a short questionnaire to 100,000 addresses to identify samples of disabled adults and children in the community to be interviewed from July to November this year. Next year the survey will be extended to disabled people in institutions.
The main purpose of the survey is to obtain up-to-date and comprehensive information about the number of disabled people, their circumstances and their needs. Information of this kind is essential if we are to make best use of available resources for services and benefits which reflect the needs of disabled people.