§ Mr. Grovesasked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the West Ham agencies catering for the welfare of the blind are finding it increasingly difficult to deal with applications for clothing and articles of domestic use; that as the local authority receives its moneys through the block grant and cannot therefore augment their contributions, hardship is imposed upon the sightless; and whether he will consider either allowing sightless persons the increased supplementary pension and grants for clothing, etc., or adding to the block grant to the local authorities?
§ Mr. E. BrownI am not aware of any such difficulties as are referred to in the first part of the Question. The power of a local authority to grant financial or other assistance to the blind is not limited by the amount of the block grant paid to them and the question of adding to this grant therefore does not arise.