§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what investigations he is carrying out into the possible sponsorship of the development of computers for the handicapped.
§ Mr. RossiI am very much aware of the potential application of microcomputer technology in the aids field and, in consultation with officials in the Department of Industry, officials in this Department are considering whether any initiatives are possible.
§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give details of the electronic aids that are available to help the handicapped who have trouble talking or writing.
§ Mr. RossiThe Department supports the disabled living foundation information service and the publication "Equipment for the Disabled" both of which provide published information about aids available on the United Kingdom market. The scientific and technical branch of the Department has published two catalogues which contain information on communication aids. They are "Aids for the Speech-Impaired" dated April 1980 and "Electronic Environment Control Systems for the Severely Physically Handicapped" dated January 1977 which includes information on typewriters.
I am arranging for copies of the DHSS publications to be placed in the Library of the House.
§ Mrs. Reńee Shortasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how much has been spent by local authorities on technical aids for disabled people for each year since 1970 to the latest available date at constant prices.
§ Mr. RossiLocal authority expenditure returns do not categorise spending on the disabled. Total net expenditure by local authorities on aids since 1972–73, the first year in which returns giving that information were rendered, is as follows:
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£ million (at November 1980 prices) 1972–73 3.1 1973–74 3.6 1974–75 4.4 1975–76 4.3 1976–77 4.7 1977–78 5.1 1978–79 6.3 1979–80 5.5 1980–81 *5.l * Provisional.
§ Mrs. Reńee Shortasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what technical aids for the disabled his Department is responsible for paying for; and how much has been spent on each of them for each year since 1970 at constant prices.
§ Mr. RossiThis information is not readily available, but is being assembled, and I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.
§ Mrs. Reńee Shortasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many severely handicapped people have been supplied with environmental controls by his Department since 1970; and at what cost;
(2) how many severely handicapped people have been supplied with typewriters by his Department since 1970; and at what cost.
§ Mr. RossiDuring the period April 1970 to March 1981, 1,420 environmental control aids and 618 typewriters have been supplied in England for use by severely handicapped people at a total cost to the Department of £3,772,000. A breakdown of this sum between the two items of equipment for the years before 1980–81 would incur disproportionate costs. However in 1980–81 expenditure on environmental control aids totalled £572,000 and typewriters £226,000.
§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will estimate how many severely physically disabled people suffer from communications difficulties.
§ Mr. RossiPeople with moderate and severe impairments of comprehension, language, articulation, hearing and vision will have communication difficulties. Additionally, a severe communication deficit would be regarded as a severe physical disability in itself. Data on the numbers involved would be difficult to collect and no reliable estimates can be made from existing studies.
However, officials have recently approached the Medical Research Council to explore the possibility and practicability of initiating research to provide information on severely physically disabled people with communication difficulties.
§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people in the United Kingdom are disabled; and if he will break the figures down to show the age distribution (a) up to 21, (b) 21 to 29 (c) 30 to 39, (d) 40 to 49, (e) 50 to 59 and (1) over 60 years.
§ Mr. RossiI regret the information is not available in the form requested. The numbers of handicapped people in the general classes registered with local authorities in England and Wales and with health and social services boards in Northern Ireland for the periods stated, broken down into age groups where possible, are as follows:
England (Year ended 31 March 1981) Total 943,605—includes estimates in respect of nine authorities, based on their 1980 data. Excludes three authorities whos latest return is in respect of 1979.
0 to 16 19,539 16 to 64 312,855 65 to 74 256,715 75 and over 340,169 (This excludes figures for two authorities which did not provide complete age-breakdown).
Wales (Year ended 31 March 1981)
Total 69,596—includes an estimate for one authority. No age breakdown yet available.
Northern Ireland (year ended 31 December 1979)
Total 14,393—includes those whose ages are not known.
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0 to 4 129 5 to 15 614 16 to 24 466 25 to 39 1,015 40 to 64 3,999 65 to 74 3,634 75 and over 2,574 Comparable figures are not available for Scotland.
Registration with a local authority is not compulsory and it is probable that the registers understate the numbers of disabled people.
§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many companies are involved in supplying all the communications aids for the severely physically handicapped distributed centrally through his Department.
§ Mr. RossiOne company supplies all the communication aids distributed centrally through the Department to the severely physically handicapped.
§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is satisfied that his Department uses the most up-to-date technology in its technical aids to the handicapped; and what current discussions he is having with companies on improving the current products and introducing new ones.
§ Mr. RossiI am satisfied that, on the whole, technical aids to the handicapped supplied by the Department do use272W the most up-to-date technology. But the pace of technological change must sometimes outstrip our capacity to supply it. The Department sponsors research and development in universities, research establishments and manufacturers in the search for continual improvement.
§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Social Services why his Department has refused to authorise the prescription of Electraids to handicapped people, especially children who cannot use Possums; and if he will re-consider this.
§ Mr. RossiIt is within the powers of health and social services authorities to provide any type of communication aid prescribed for handicapped people. The Department's authorisation is not required.
I am sending the hon. Member a copy of leaflet HB2—"Aids for the Disabled".