HC Deb 10 May 1977 vol 931 cc434-5W
17. Mr. Luce

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he has any plans to meet leaders of organisations to help the disabled in the near future.

Mr. Alfred Morris

I would refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend's reply to the hon. Member for Romford (Mr. Neubert) on 5th April.—[Vol. 929, c. 1085–7.] It is my practice to maintain close contact with these organisations, and both my right hon. Friend and I meet their representatives as regularly as we possibly can.

19. Mr. Eyre

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what further proposals he has for assisting with the mobility of disabled employees.

Mr. Alfred Morris

I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave to the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Bridlington (Mr. Wood) on 19th April.—[Vol. 930, c.78–9.]

50. Mr. Ioan Evans

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what action is being taken to make known to disabled people the help and benefits made available in recent years.

Mr. Alfred Morris

The problem is to get the right information to the right people, at the right time and in the right way, about the very wide range of benefits and services which are now available. We seek to do this, both directly to disabled people, and indirectly through their organisations, professional workers and other individuals, including Members of Parliament, who are in close touch with the disabled. Methods used have included the issue of the general purpose booklet "Help for Handicapped People"; advertising in newspapers and on television; leaflets on particular social security benefits; "teach-ins" on social security, seminars and other training occasions and courses; articles in professional and other journals; information services, both general purpose and specific, operating at local and national level; and posters, leaflets and booklets produced by

Year ended Blind and partially sighted aged 16 to 20 Deaf and hard of hearing aged 16 to 29 General classes aged 16 to 29
31st March 1972 … 1,038 6,565 16,684
31st March 1973 … 983 7,251 18,784
31st March 1974 … 943 7,204 20,628
31st March 1975 … 899 6,755 20,104
31st March 1976 (Provisional) … 912 7,124 21,454

Reliable figures for the numbers of unregistered disabled people are not available.