§ Mr. KidneyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what assistance his Department makes available to carers for the purchase of specialist equipment. [58391]
§ Mr. HuttonCarers do not directly receive money to purchase specialist equipment. The Government's objective in providing equipment to disabled and older people is to help them live as fully and independently as possible, ensuring that service providers make practical support for carers a high priority. In 1996/97, the latest year for which figures are available, the National Health Service and social services spent a combined figure of approximately £250 million on the provision of disability equipment, excluding home adaptions. Expenditure on Disabled Facilities Grants by housing authorities was £95 million.