Mr. Fred Evansasked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish the number of houses which make special provision for the needs of disabled persons that have been proposed and constructed, respectively, by each local authority since Section 3(1) of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970 came into force; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. John MorrisDuring the relevant period proposals have been approved for the construction of purpose-built dwellings by the following authorities:
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Dwellings Brecknock BC … … 6 Cardiff CC … … 23 Carmarthen DC … … 14 Colwyn BC … … 2 Cynon Valley BC … … 5 Delyn BC … … 1 Dinefwr BC … … 4 Islwyn BC … … 4 Llanelli BC … … 12 Lliw Valley BC … … 4 Merthyr BC … … 21 Monmouth DC … … 8 Montgomery DC … … 1 Neath BC … … 1 Newport BC … … 6 Ogwr BC … … 4 Preseli DC … … 8 Radnor DC … … 1 Rhondda BC … … 2 Swansea CC … … 4 Torfaen BC … … 9 Vale of Glamorgan BC … … 10 Wrexham-Maelor BC … … 5 total 155 the Rate Support Grant Order 1974 are as follows:
I cannot say how many have been completed.
Mr. Fred Evansasked the Secretary of State for Wales what research he has undertaken to ascertain the suitability of "mobility housing" for handicapped people who use but are not confined to a wheelchair; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. John MorrisResearch on this subject is described in the Occasional Paper "Mobility Housing" which was issued to all local authorities in both Wales and England in July this year. I am arranging for a copy to be sent to my hon. Friend.
Mr. Fred Evansasked the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has for alternatives to institutional accommodation for young disabled people; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. John MorrisI have already made clear to local authorities in Circular 120/ 74 the need for increased emphasis on housing the handicapped in the community. I am also in touch with the experimental schemes currently being developed in certain London boroughs and metropolitan authorities, and will be considering carefully the implications for Wales of any lessons which emerge from these schemes.
Mr. Fred Evansasked the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what advice he has given to local authorities regarding the assessment of the level of need for specialised housing for disabled people;
(2) what advice he has given to local authorities regarding the priority on 689W waiting lists to be given to disabled people who require either specially designed or "mobility" housing;
(3) what advice he has given to local authorities regarding co-operation with specialist housing associations in the provision of specially designed housing for disabled people.
§ Mr. John MorrisMy Department's Circular No. 120/74 of 7th May 1974 gave advice on the importance of assessing the housing needs of disabled people and on ways of doing so. It asked all local authorities to set about securing, with
Area Deaf with Speech Deaf without of speech Hard of hearing Blind Partially sighted General classes Total Anglesey … 15 18 19 155 44 673 924 Brecon … 17 14 201 142 91 661 1,126 Caernarvonshire … 16 34 100 425 116 2,144 2,835 Cardiganshire … — — 15 168 60 925 1,168 Carmarthenshire … 34 34 185 636 216 3,134 4,239 Denbighshire … 33 61 48 366 145 2,274 2,927 Flintshire … 27 54 28 335 209 1,462 2,115 Glamorgan … 89 225 228 2,227 1,235 8,530 12,534 Merioneth … 12 19 21 112 47 500 711 Monmouthshire … 52 82 16 1,078 525 3,206 4,959 Montgomeryshire … 12 19 18 114 34 379 576 Pembrokeshire … 13 19 12 214 170 764 1,192 Radnorshire … 12 4 23 56 11 228 334 Cardiff CB … 51 97 26 583 227 1,525 2,509 Merthyr CB … 24 22 11 252 118 550 977 Newport CB … 32 45 19 265 121 1,075 1,557 Swansea CB … 13 112 15 292 85 967 1,484 Wales … 452 859 985 7,420 3,454 28,997 42,167
Mr. Fred Evansasked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the method or methods used by each former local authority to implement Section 1 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970.
§ Mr. John MorrisThe methods were as follows:
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- Anglesey CC 100 per cent, survey.
- Breconshire CC 100 per cent, survey.
- Cardiganshire CC 10 per cent, systematic survey, by visits.
- Carmarthenshire CC 100 per cent, survey.
- Caernarvonshire CC Publicity campaign.
- Denbighshire CC Sample survey and publicity campaign.
- Flintshire CC Publicity campaign.
- Glamorgan CC 100 per cent, survey.
- Merioneth CC Publicity campaign.
- Monmouthshire CC 5 per cent, sample survey.
- Montgomeryshire CC Publicity campaign.
- Pembrokeshire CC 13½ per cent, sample survey.
housing associations, that a range of suitable housing, including specially designed and "mobility" housing, was made available. This will enable greater priority to be given to meeting the needs of disabled people, whether on waiting lists or not.
Mr. Fred Evansasked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish the number of handicapped persons in each. category on the register of each local authority in Wales.
§ Mr. John MorrisThe following table gives the information at 31st March 1974:
- Radnorshire CC 100 per cent, survey.
- Cardiff CBC Publicity campaign.
- Newport CBC 10 per cent, sample survey and publicity campaign.
- Merthyr CBC 10 per cent, systematic survery by visits.
- Swansea CBC Publicity campaign.
Mr. Fred Evansasked the Secretary of State for Wales what percentage of households in each local authority has now for the purpose of implementing Section 1 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970 received a personal visit, a questionnaire as part of a sample survey or an informatory leaflet, respectively.
§ Mr. John MorrisI regret that the information is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost and effort on the part of local authorities.
Mr. Fred Evansasked the Secretary of State for Wales what information he has 691W received under Section 19 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. John MorrisBefore Section 19 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970 was repealed by the National Health Service Reorganisation Act 1973, local health authorities provided chiropody services for the following disabled persons under 65:—
1971 … … … … 1,347 1972 … … … … 1,379 1973 … … … … 1,542 Since April 1974 area health authorities have been responsible for chiropody services locally. Priority is given to the elderly, the handicapped, expectant mothers and children. Relevant information will continue to be collected.
Number of Home Helps Area Total Whole-Time Whole-Time Equivalent Area Whole-Time Part-Time Equivalent 65+ Anglesey AC … 8 208 60.9 6.92 Brecon AC … — 230 67.0 8.07 Caernarvonshire AC … 41 112 91.0 3.79 Cardiganshire AC … — 247 86.8 9.04 Carmarthenshire AC … — 342 97.0 3.76 Denbighshire AC … — 269 134.8 4.24 Flintshire AC … — 182 91.0 3.36 Glamorgan AC … 12 1,580 702.0 7.16 Merioneth AC … — 201 68.1 10.32 Monmouthshire AC … — 1,126 552.7 12.62 Montgomeryshire AC … — 188 64.0 8.77 Pembrokeshire AC … — 255 72.8 5.31 Radnorshire AC … — 59 10.4 3.15 Cardiff CB … 37 477 238.0 6.26 Merthyr CB … — 418 85.0 10.49 Newport CB … 9 191 100.0 4.26 Swansea CB … 2 240 122.0 8.71 No information is yet available for the new counties