§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the net expenditure by social services departments on the installation and rental of telephones for disabled people in 1972-73, 1973-74 and 1974-75, respectively; what proportion of the figure was spent on in- 622W stallation in each year; what was the average net cost of each installation in each year; what was the average contribution to each disabled person's rental payments in each year.
§ Mr. Alfred MorrisNet expenditure on the installation and rental of telephones by local authorities in England was as follows:
£(millions) 1972-73 0.8 1973-74 1.5 1974-75 2.4 My hon. Friend will know that assistance may be given either under Section 2 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970 in the case of disabled people, or under Section 45 of the Health Services and Public Health Act 1968 in the case of frail elderly people, and expenditure was almost entirely on providing telephones for these two groups. Separate financial information is not available in respect of installation costs or contributions to rental payments.
§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will consider giving specific grants to local authorities to cover their contributions towards the telephone rentals of disabled people in order that their expenditure on installations of telephones and other assistance for disabled people shall not be reduced.
§ Mr. Alfred MorrisThe question of specific grants will be considered in the light of the report of the Committee of Inquiry into Local Government Finance which is published today.