Mr. Fred Evansasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she will ensure that the priority afforded by her Department to loan sanctions for local authority capital projects for the mentally ill, as distinct from the mentally handicapped, is not diminished; and if she will make a statement.
§ Dr. OwenYes. Decisions on the level of resources will have to await the outcome of our public expenditure survey and I shall be making a statement about this later.
Mr. Fred Evansasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she is satisfied that local authorities are applying the provisions of Sections 1 and 2 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970 to the mentally handicapped and ill, where appropriate, as well as to the physically handicapped and ill; if she now intends to provide further guidance on this matter; and if she will make a statement.
§ Dr. OwenYes, although we accept that most authorities have still a long way to go before they would wish to claim that they have identified and met all individual needs. Local authorities were reminded in my Department's Circular 17/74 issued in March this year that the mentally ill and mentally handicapped are among those covered by the provisions of the Act. My Department has issued guidance both on the pattern and scale of services which local authorities should aim to provide for people in 507W both groups; and as my right hon. Friend announced on 7th May—[Vol. 873, c. 73.]—it is her intention to publish a White Paper on services for the mentally ill.
Mr. Fred Evansasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the estimated annual cost of allowing disabled people living alone to qualify for a vehicle in order to enable them to carry out their household duties.
§ Dr. OwenDepending on the definitions of "disabled" as used, a variety of estimates—up to at least £50 million per annum—could result.
Mr. Fred Evansasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the estimated additional annual cost of allowing haemophiliacs who qualify for a three-wheeler to be provided with a car.
§ Dr. OwenIt is not possible to give precise figures, but the additional cost in relation to the cost of the vehicle service as a whole is negligible.
Mr. Fred Evansasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the total cost of the vehicle service for the disabled for the years 1971–72, 1972–73 and 1973–74, respectively.
§ Dr. OwenThe figures are as follows:
1971–72 … … £7.725 million 1972–73 … … £9.436 million 1973–74 … … £11.553 million These figures include expenditure on wheelchairs as well as powered vehicles. Staff costs are not included.
Mr. Fred Evansasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is her estimate of the extra annual cost of the changes announced by her predecessor on 21st February 1972 concerning the vehicle service for the disabled.
§ Dr. OwenThe extra cost of these changes cannot be precisely separated from increases resulting from price rises and rising demand due to other causes. The aim of the whole package, which was essentially envisaged as an interim arrangement, was that the savings achieved would broadly cover the cost of the additional benefits and so far as can be judged this objective has been achieved.
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Mr. Fred Evansasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is her estimate of the net annual cost of the introduction of the £100 per annum allowance for disabled drivers who qualify for one of her Department's three-wheelers.
§ Dr. OwenThe total cost of the £100 per year private car allowance in 1973–74 was just under £1…5 million, excluding administration.
Mr. Fred Evansasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the annual saving from requiring the surrender of a vehicle, issued to a disabled person for the purpose of getting to work, on cessation of employment.
Mr. Fred Evansasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the annual saving resulting from the reduction of cash assistance to recipients of cars issued by her Department announced on 21st February 1972.
§ Dr. OwenAt the present time approximately £75,000 per annum, but the saving is cumulative and is expected to rise eventually on the basis on the present size of the fleet, to about £200,000.
Mr. Fred Evansasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the saving resulting from the withdrawal of the petrol allowance for disabled drivers of three-wheelers issued by her Department.
Mr. Fred Evansasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the annual cost of the removal of the employment condition from those whose inability to walk is due to a heart or lung condition.
§ Dr. OwenThe cost of providing vehicles or allowances in lieu, to those suffering from heart or lung disability who are virtually unable to walk, has so far been approximately £300,000 per annum. It is not possible to say precisely how many of those found eligible in this category are working.