§ Mrs. Winifred Ewingasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will introduce legislation to ensure that local authorities be required to include a minimum stated percentage of special accommodation for disabled persons in all housing schemes.
§ Mr. William RossNo. Local authorities are already under a statutory obligation, contained in the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970, to have regard to the special needs of the disabled in considering housing conditions in their area. Since the Act came into force local authorities have adapted an encouraging number of existing houses for the use of disabled people. I have, moreover, strongly recommended to authorities that, to the extent that a local assessment of needs may indicate, they should include houses for physically handicapped people in any sizeable new housing development.