HC Deb 06 April 1971 vol 815 cc63-4W
30. Mr. John Hannam

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he has studied the details of the measures adopted by the Exeter City Council towards the implementation of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act, 1970, supplied to him by the hon. Member for Exeter; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Alison

I am encouraged by the information sent me, and I have no reason to think that other authorities will not also use all available opportunities to develop these services.

53. Sir G. de Freitas

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will make a further statement on the implementation of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act, 1970, generally, and in the Kettering constituency in particular.

Mr. Alison

All sections of the Act have been implemented, with the exception of Sections 1 and 21, which are subject to Appointed Day orders. I understand that the Northamptonshire County Council, like other authorities, is considering what it can do further to develop the services for which it is responsible under the Act.

55. Miss Holt

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what progress is being made in the county borough of Preston, Lancashire, towards the imple- mentation of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act, 1970.

Mr. Alison

I am informed that the Council has discussed the Act on a number of occasions and decided on several developments of its services.

Mr. Alfred Morris

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a further statement on the implementation by local authorities of Section 2 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act, 1970.

Mr. Alison

All local authorities are implementing this Section; and the need to develop the services for which it provides, along with the other health and personal social services, was taken into account in the recent Rate Support Grant Order and the White Paper on Public Expenditure (Cmnd. 4578).

Mr. Alfred Morris

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps he has taken, and what further steps he will be taking, to make it clear to local authorities and the general public that the provisions of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act, 1970, apply, where appropriate, as much to the mentally handicapped as to other handicapped persons.

Mr. Alison

This point was specifically brought to the attention of local authorities in the joint Departmental circular on the Act issued on 17th August, 1970, and we do not think that any further guidance to authorities on our part is necessary. When Section 1 of the Act comes into force on 1st October authorities will be under a duty to publicise their services for disabled people, and they will, I am sure, in this publicity, make it clear that, where appropriate, the services extend to mentally disordered people of any description. We are considering what general publicity the Department could usefully undertake to supplement that of local authorities, and we will bear the hon. Member's point fully in mind.