§ Mr. Fittasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he is satisfied that disabled people in Northern Ireland are adequately informed of the services available to them; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Concannon, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 6th July 1976; Vol. 914, c. 512–15], gave the following information:
The Northern Ireland Department of Health and Social Services issued in 1972 a booklet entitled "Help for Handicapped People", which describes the full range of facilities, including financial benefits available and where to apply for them. I am satisfied that the comprehensive distribution of this booklet has been valuable in informing both the handicapped and those caring for them of the help available. A revised edition of the booklet is to be issued shortly. In addition, references to the booklet and 687W advice on a variety of cash benefits for the disabled are contained in various national insurance leaflets and in the Northern Ireland Department of Health and Social Services publication "Family Benefits and Pensions".
§ Mr. Fittasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many holidays have been provided for elderly and handicapped people by each area health board in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years; what rate each figure repre-
Board Number Rate per 1,000 of the population Eastern Health and Social Services Board … … … 600 0.88 Northern Health and Social Services Board … … … 415 1.15 Southern Health and Social Services Board … … … 56 0.21 Western Health and Social Services Board … … … 76 0.32 Total for Northern Ireland … … … 1,147 0.74 The total numbers of holidays provided by the former welfare authorities in earlier years is not available, but over a five-year period ending 31st December 1973, 603 were provided in a statutory holiday home, and many in voluntary holiday homes.
Figures and rates of provision in England are matters for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services.
§ Mr. Fittasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many home helps were employed by each area health board in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years; what rate each figure represents per 1,000 population; what were the total figures in Northern Ireland and England, respectively, in each year; if he is satisfied that elderly and disabled people are receiving the assistance in the home that they require; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Concannon, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 6th July 1976; Vol. 914, c. 514–15], gave the following information:
Prior to the establishment of the Health and Social Services Boards in October 1973 home helps were employed by county and county borough welfare committees. The total numbers of home helps
688Wsents per 1,000 population; what were the total figures and rates in Northern Ireland and England, respectively, in each year; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Concannon, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 6th July 1976; Vol. 914, c. 513–15], gave the following information:
The latest available statistics relate to the year ended 31st December 1974 during which Health and Social Services Boards provided holidays as follows:
employed by the committees in 1971, 1972 and 1973 were 6,765, 7,062 and 7,472 respectively. The numbers employed by the Health and Social Services Boards in 1974 and 1975 are as follows:
1974 1975 Eastern Board 5,060 5,858 Northern Board 1,922 2,009 Southern Board 1,816 2,198 Western Board 1,280 1,611 Total in Northern Ireland 10,078 11,676 Rates per 1,000 of the population would not be stastically valid because of the varying numbers of full-time and part-time home helps between years and between area.
Figures relating to the position in England are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services.
Within the limits of existing resources, the present home help service provides valuable support for the elderly and the physically handicapped in their own homes. A review of the service is being undertaken by the Central Personal Social Services Advisory Committee.
§ Mr. Fittasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what action he has taken to ensure that no school, college or university designed or completed in the last five years has failed to provide adequate facilities for the needs of pupils or teachers who are disabled: and what 689W action he intends to take to improve the access and facilities for disabled people in educational establishments in Northern Ireland.
§ Mr. Carter, pursuant to the reply [Official Report, 6th July 1976; Vol. 914, c. 513–15], gave the following information:
All educational building authorities are aware of the need to design facilities in such manner as to allow their use by disabled pupils, students and staff. Whilst Section 8 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970 does not apply in Northern Ireland its provisions are followed by the Northern Ireland Department of Education in approving building schemes. The University Grants Committee scrutinises the plans for all university building in Northern Ireland on the same standards as for university building in Great Britain and accordingly the provisions of the Act are taken into account. The provisions of access facilities for the disabled is made as far as is reasonable and practicable. There are no plans at present for any further general action. If the hon. Member has any specific instances in mind I would be grateful if he would write to me.