§ Sir Hector MonroTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement concerning the fund being held in reserve under the special grants (environmental) programme to support suitable projects which will further the aims of the Government's White Paper "This Common Inheritance."
§ Mr. LangI am pleased to announce that £34,250 has now been offered to 12 voluntary bodies in Scotland to help them carry out projects designed to enhance the quality of Scotland's environment and to increase popular understanding, awareness and enjoyment of it. Among the projects to be supported include a project to provide safer access for cyclists and pedestrains to the Clyde walkway at Rutherglen bridge, recycling schemes in Edinburgh and the Western Isles, and a project to improve access to the countryside by disabled people in highlands. Full details are contained in the table.
A further £239,250 has already been allocated this year to assist voluntary bodies with their core administrative costs, thus helping them to carry out environmental conservation, improvement or educational work in Scotland. A total of £1,500 remains in reserve. This is the first year that a specific amount has been set aside for small projects under the special grants (environmental) programme, and I look forward to seeing the results.
§ Mr. Michael Forsyth[holding answer 3 July 1991]: The Government's policies for people in Scotland with disabilities accord with the aims set out by my right hon. Friend The Prime Minister on 4 July at column 184.
The new arrangements for community care which will be fully implemented in 1993 seek to improve the quality of life for disabled people. Local authorities will be required to assess their needs and produce individual care packages, taking account of the views of the disabled 649W people concerned and their carers. Our guidance to authorities suggests that they should provide information on their services and on the assessment procedures in braille. Voluntary organisations representing disabled people and their carers will be consulted on the preparation of community care plans.
The recent introduction of a complaints procedure to users of social work services is part of the progress being made to make the services more responsive to users' needs.
The Government acknowledge the relatively low level of existing provision in the community for people with mental health problems and have introduced the mental illness specific grant scheme to assist local authorities to develop new community-based services. Grant of £2.1 million will support local authorities expenditure of £3 million. In addition over £250,000 will be made available for capital expenditure to voluntary organisations in this field. We are also giving grants of around £1 million toward the running costs of voluntary organisations for disabled people.
We agree with the authors of the manifesto that dissemination of information is important to disabled people and are actively involved with Disability Scotland in establishing a base for "Handynet" as part of the European Community's HELIOS programme.
The recently announced community care bridging finance scheme is designed to benefit people who need long-term care and support. A total of £15 million has been made available to health boards to help them meet the double-running costs incurred where building up community support facilities and continuing to provide adequate levels of institutional care.
A total of £500,000 per annum has been allocated towards a service for the rehabilitation of the traumatic brain injured and funding of £200,000 per annum for three years to establish a cochlear implant programme.
We have set up a working group of the National Medical Advisory Committee to evaluate the present and future provision of rehabilitation services in Scotland.
Substantial resources continue to be made available to local authorities and other housing agencies for special needs housing along with appropriate guidance on the level of provision. The range of housing suitable for people with disabilities rose from 3,139 in 1979 to 19,560 in 1990. We recognise that access to buildings is vital for the quality of life of disabled people and local authorities must employ an access officer. Extended access for disabled people to the upper floors of all new buildings except dwellings will he the subject of public consultation later this year.
Government support for sport is mainly channelled through the Scottish Sports Council which is committed to a philosophy of sport for all. Developing opportunities for people with disabilities to take part in sport will be central to a conference being held by the council later this year.
We remain committed to reviewing and improving services for people with disabilities throughout Scotland.