§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what discussions he has had, and with whom, concerning his Department's participation in the 1981 International Year of Disabled People ; what events his Department will be participating in or sponsoring ; what funds will be available for projects and events in connection with the 1981 International Year of Disabled People ; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. PrenticeThe Government fully support the principles of the International Year of Disabled People and will do all they can to ensure that the year is a success. A grant of £84,000 has been agreed for 1980–81 to enable the National Council for Voluntary Organisations to administer a voluntary organisations' committee to stimulate and co-ordinate the voluntary sector's activities for the year. I hope to have a discussion with72W the recently-appointed chairman of that committee in the near future.
The Government have established an inter-departmental official steering group, which includes representatives from the local authority associations and the National Health Service, to co-ordinate their response to the year. Discussions are taking place with a number of organisations about other ways in which the Department might be involved in the year, but it is too early to say exactly what that involvement might be.