§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many thalidomide children have applied for the attendance allowance; how many have been successful; how many of those unsuccessful have appealed; and how many of the reviews have been successful.
§ Sir K. JosephSeparate information is not maintained concerning numbers of children for whom attendance allowance has been claimed, whose disablement is due to thalidomide. Information about thalidomide is not required by the Attendance Allowance Board in order to 273W decide whether the medical requirements for the allowance are satisfied and would not necessarily be recorded by the general practitioner or other doctor completing a report for the board.
§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what discussions his Department has had with overseas countries regarding possible aids for thalidomide children; and what exchanges of information and equipment have taken place.
§ Sir K. JosephMy Department informs itself about possible aids available in other countries for use by the disabled, including thalidomide children. This is done through visits by medical and technical experts, participation in the work of international bodies, purchase and evaluation of hardware, and in other ways. It is a continuing process.
§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many thalidomide victims need ramps to obtain access to and from their homes and to and from their place of education; how many such ramps have been provided; and who provided them and at what expense;
(2) if he will take steps to make sure that all services referred to in the Prime Minister's letter to the hon. Member for Eccles on 15th November are made known to the parents and guardians of thalidomide children; and if he will appoint a departmental committee to make certain that full provisions are available for all these children as individuals;
(3) in view of the discrepancies of local authority services as between one area and another regarding the provision of practical assistance to thalidomide victims, if he will make representations to local authorities who are not giving at least average support; and if he will publish the records of such local authorities in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Sir K. JosephInformation about services provided by local authorities to individual families is not available centrally, but as I intend to write as soon as possible to authorities about services for the families of thalidomide children generally I see no need for any departmental committee. I shall also ask274W authorities to ensure that these families are fully aware of all available statutory and voluntary services.