§ Mr. Bradfordasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will give an estimate of the waste of financial resources due to elderly and handicapped people not being able to commute to the day and craft centres because of the 212W work-to-rule by the social services drivers in Northern Ireland.
§ Mr. CarterThe average additional costs incurred by the Eastern Health and Social Services Board as a result of the industrial action being taken by welfare drivers in Belfast is as follows:
£ (per day) Costs arising from the use of alternative means of transport 22.30 Cost of providing additional assistance to persons confined to their homes (home help, meals-on-wheels) 4.25
§ Mr. Bradfordasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what alternative means of transport to day and craft centres in East Belfast and Castlereagh are being deployed in respect of those elderly and handicapped people who are being affected by the social services drivers' work-to-rule in Northern Ireland.
§ Mr. CarterIt is estimated that in the East Belfast and Castlereagh district over 85 per cent. of all clients usually requiring transport are being collected and that about a further 9 per cent. are using their own or private means of transport. As I indicated in my reply to the hon. Member for Belfast, East (Mr. Craig) on 21st March 1978—[Vol. 946 c. 534]—I have asked the Eastern Health and Social Services Board to re-examine the level of provision of alternative means of transport in this district.
§ Mr. Bradfordasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many elderly and handicapped people are confined to their homes as a result of the social services drivers' work-to-rule in Northern Ireland.
§ Mr. CarterI have nothing to add to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Belfast, East (Mr. Craig) on 21st March 1978.—[Vol. 946, c. 534.]