HC Deb 20 February 1978 vol 944 cc487-8W
Mr. Carter-Jones

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the expenditure per 1,000 population in 1976–77 by local authority social services departments in England on, respectively, aids, adaptations and telephones for disabled people.

Mr. Alfred Morris

Figures for 1976–77 have not yet been published by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy, but calculations based on information supplied by local authorities show net expenditure as follows:—

Aids £58.8
Adaptations £67.5
Telephones £67.4
These figures include loan charges but exclude admission costs, which

respectively; and what contribution was made towards the cost of meals provided for and consumed by employees during working hours by those employees in the same years.

Mr. Ennals

Canteen and catering facilities are provided by the Department of Health and Social Security by way of Civil Service staff restaurants, which are provided free of charge with premises, equipment and services. The cost to public funds of this provision is not readily available. The restaurants are also currently entitled to a graduated subsidy, designed to encourage efficiency, and in some cases to additional payments to take account of difficult operating conditions.

Staff using the restaurants are charged for all refreshments, the actual charge varying according to the meal taken. There is no standard charge and prices vary from restaurant to restaurant.

The figures requested, for the most convenient periods, are shown below:

cannot be separately identified for these services.

Mr. Spearing

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement concerning the latest position in respect of disabled young persons on the Y list.

Mr. Alfred Morris

I much appreciate my hon. Friend's interest and concern. In keeping with the assurance given on 13th February to my hon. Friends the Members for Luton, West (Mr. Sedge-more), Bedwellty (Mr. Kinnock), Bassetlaw (Mr. Ashton) and Liverpool, Walton (Mr. Heffer)—[Vol. 994, c.11–14]—I am continuing to do what I can to help resolve outstanding problems. My Department is holding further meetings with the interested parties. I shall make a further statement as soon as possible.