HC Deb 16 February 1971 vol 811 c398W
Mr. Carter-Jones

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what guidance is offered by his Department for house adaptations for disabled persons under the National Assistance Act; and if he will make copies of this guidance available to Members;

(2) what advice he has given to local authorities on the possible use of chemical closets in households where a disabled person cannot climb stairs and where it is not possible to have a downstairs water closet.

Mr. Alison

The possibilities of adaptation or the provision of alternative facilities depend on the individual needs of handicapped persons and the design of individual dwellings. General guidance is therefore of little value, but my Department takes appropriate opportunities of drawing to the attention of local authorities sources of information on the design of buildings for the disabled.

In addition, my Department and the Department of the Environment are arranging to co-operate in a study of the housing needs of the handicapped, and I expect this to provide further information about the extent to which the adaptation of dwellings is both possible and helpful to handicapped people.