§ Mr. Litherlandasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give comparative figures, per thousand of the population, for the provision under section 2 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act of aids and other forms of help for disabled people in the City of Manchester, Trafford and Cheshire county in the last full year for which figures are available.
§ Mr. PrenticeThe figures for 1977–78 are as follows:
population in each of the three local authorities, giving the figure for the number of disabled people as a percentage of the total.
§ Mr. PrenticeThe information is as follows:
his Department has had with the Post Office Users' National Council concerning services to meet special needs of handicapped people; what recommendations his Department has made to 557W the council and the Post Office; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. PrenticeThe Department is in regular contact with the council. Recent exchanges have concerned the continuing need for training of Post Office Staff about disability, access to post offices, parking problems and improvements in facilities, for example, telephone kiosks. As regards access, which has been the most important matter in issue, I have invited the council to get in touch with the committee on restrictions against disabled people and I have instructed officials of the Department to continue discussing possibilities with the council and the Post Office.