HC Deb 22 October 1975 vol 898 cc171-2W
Mrs. Winifred Ewing

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will introduce legislation to ensure that local authorities be required to include a minimum stated percentage of special accommodation in housing schemes for disabled persons.

Mr. Freeson

Such representations have been made from time to time, but I do not think that laying down a percentage of provision for disabled people, or for other groups with special needs, would be the best way to increase provision.

I announced in February a drive for stimulating the quite inadequate provision of recent years. I ask all authorities to incorporate mobility housing, together with wheelchair housing, in all new housing schemes of any size, and to give prompt attention to proposals for improvement and adaptation of accommodation for disabled people. I have recently published new yardsticks and recast the procedure for wheelchair housing. In addition, my adviser on housing for disabled people has published two papers on mobility and wheelchair housing.