§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what statistical information he can provide showing the progress made on implementing the provisions of Section 2 of the Chronically 117W Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970 and on other community services used substantially by disabled people.
§ Mr. Alfred MorrisThe following tables show the numbers of registered disabled people in 1970 compared with 1976, the most recent date for which figures were available, and statistics of provision and expenditure for relevant services com paring 1972–73 with 1975–76, the earliest and latest years for which such data are
CHRONICALLY SICK AND DISABLED PERSONS ACT 1. Progress on registrations Total Deaf with speech Deaf without speech Hard of Hearing Blind Partially sighted General Classes 31st December 1970 … 404,800 9,600 14,800 16,300 95,700 34,200 234,100 31st March 1976 … 854,200 13,100 14,400 25,500 101,100 42,900 657,200 Increase— (a) Number … 449,400 3,600 —400 9,000 5,300 8,700 423,100 (b) Percentage … 111.0 37.2 —2.6 54.3 5.6 25.6 180.8
2(a). Progress on Section 2 services: Items of Service Communication equipment Households Television and radio Households Other personal aids Adaptations Households Adaptations Households Holidays Households 1972–73 … 30,400 7,300 118,200 28,400 80,900 1975–76 … 88,000 40,700 191,200 48,600 101,400 Increase— (a) Number … 57,600 33,400 73,000 20,300 20,500 (b) Percentage … 189.7 457.1 61.8 71.4 25.4
2(b).Net expenditure at "out-turn" prices Holidays and Recreation £million Telephones Aids Adaptations Total 1972–73 1.120 0.781 0.890 1.095 3.886 1975–76 (Provisional) 3.156 3.249 2.223 3.334 11.972 Increase— (a) Number 2.036 2.468 1.343 2.239 8.086 (b) Percentage 182.0 316.0 151.0 204.0 208.0
3(a). Progress on services substantially used by Disabled People: Items of Service (see earlier) Meals on Wheels Persons—One day in November Home Helps (Cases) Day Centres Houses (Places) 1972–73 … 135,564 523,975 8,200 135,564 1975–76 … 172,420 652,839 9,200 172,420 Increase— (a) Number … 36,856 128,964 1,000 36,856 (b) Percentage … 27.2 24.6 12.3 27.2
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3 (b) Expenditure Meals on Wheels Home Helps Day Centres Homes Other Community care Total £ million £ million £ million £ million £ million £ million 1972–73 … 3.242 37.320 4.189 3.652 3.251 51.654 1975–76 … 9.491 90.868 9.817 10.847 7.858 128.881 Increase— (a) Number … 6.249 53.548 5.628 7.195 4.607 77.227 (b) Percentage … 193.0 143.0 134.0 197.0 142.0 149.0 available. My hon. Friend will readily appreciate that important though these services are they by no means represent the only forms of help for disabled people. There has also been significant progress made on many other fronts, for example, in the provision of special housing for disabled people, in the expansion of the orange badge scheme, in improving access facilities and in the provision of cash benefits.