§ Mr. Skinnerasked the Prime Minister whether, to mark the International Year of Disabled People, she will seek to increase the number of training centres for the young deaf throughout the United Kingdom.
§ The Prime MinisterA wide range of vocational training opportunities for deaf people is already provided. The MSC will keep this provision under review, but it has no proposals at the present time to increase its support for training centres for young deaf people.
§ Mr. Skinnerasked the Prime Minister whether, to mark the International Year of Disabled People, she will take measures to enable local authorities and others to increase free transport for the disabled.
§ The Prime MinisterLocal authorities in Great Britain already have powers to arrange for disabled people to travel free or at reduced fares. Transport operators can also provide concessionary fares for any specific category of people such as those who are disabled.
§ Mr. Skinnerasked the Prime Minister whether, to mark the International Year of Disabled People, she will increase the amount of grants available to disabled 16 to 18-year-olds for skilled training.
§ The Prime MinisterThere are a variety of MSC schemes at different skilllevels from which disabled young people can benefit and these are regularly reviewed with a view to their adequacy in coping with the problems of the disabled.
§ Mr. Skinnerasked the Prime Minister whether, to mark the International Year of Disabled People, she will take measures to ensure that local authorities increase public expenditure on facilities for the blind.
§ The Prime MinisterWhile I hope that local authorities will do all they can to help blind people, it is for those authorities to decide how they allocate the funds available to them.
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§ Mr. Skinnerasked the Prime Minister whether, to mark the International Year of Disabled People, she will take steps to double public expenditure on the provision of artificial limbs.
§ The Prime MinisterNo. While the Government fully support the aims of the International Year of Disabled People, the requirements of the artificial limb service are already reviewed annually and the need for any additional funds is considered along with other services for the disabled on the light of the financial situation. However, it is hoped that a number of improvements within budgeted plans will come to fruition during this year.
§ Mr. Skinnerasked the Prime Minister whether, to mark the International Year of Disabled People, she will take steps to double public expenditure on the provision of kidney machines and heart pacemakers.
§ The Prime MinisterAs the Chancellor announced on 24 November, health authority spending is planned to increase on real terms in 1981–82. The allocation of funds to particular services is a matter for decision by individual health authorities in the light of local needs and the resources available to meet them. As regards cardiac pacemakers, health authorities are, to the best of my knowledge, able to meet current demands for treatment.
While facilities for treating chronic renal failure have expanded rapidly in the past decade, they still fall substantially short of the estimated needs, particularly among older patients. This is not a satisfactory position, but there is a limit to the rate at which the NHS can increase provision, given the many calls on its resources. Much valuable work is however being done by voluntary organisations to supplement the resources of the NHS. I welcome their support and I hope that the International Year of Disabled People will provide a further stimulus to this partnership between the public sector and individual generosity. The most urgent need is for more donor kidneys for transplantation. We shall continue to promote the donor card scheme as vigorously as we can and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services plans to introduce an improved multi-organ donor card during the year.
§ Mr. Skinnerasked the Prime Minister whether, to mark the International Year of Disabled People, she will take steps to ensure that local authorities increase public expenditure on sporting facilities for the disabled.
§ The Prime MinisterMany local authorities already make provision in their sporting facilities for the needs of the disabled, and within the resources available to them I believe that every local authority will wish to give maximum assistance to the disabled during the international year. But local authorities are free to determine their own priorities, and the Government cannot compel them to increase or decrease public expenditure in any particular area.
§ Mr. Skinnerasked the Prime Minister whether, to mark the International Year of Disabled People, she will take measures to inform local authorities and industry about the recent studies which have been made regarding the satisfactory working performance of disabled people.
§ The Prime MinisterThrough its "Fit for Work" campaign on behalf of disabled people, the Manpower Services Commission has been drawing the attention of all employers to the studies carried out which highlight the426W excellent results which disabled people, given a reasonable chance to prove themselves, are capable of achieving.
The Government fully support the MSC's camaign to help improve employment opportunities for disabled people by persuading employers to be positive in their approach and to consider first the question of ability rather than disability.
It is hoped that in the International Year more employers will seek to follow the example set by the 1980 winners of the MSC's annual "Fit for Work" award scheme for employers who have done most to promote employment opportunities for disabled people. Certainly I and my colleagues shall take every opportunity of encouraging the MSC to develop its important campaign, which is fully consistent with the principles of the International Year of Disabled People.
§ Mr. Skinnerasked the Prime Minister what proposals she has during 1981 to increase public expenditure on facilities for the deaf.
§ The Prime MinisterAn additional £0.5 million has been made available in 1980–81 and another £0.5 million will be provided in 1981–82 to extend the standard range of NHS hearing aids.
Funds amounting to £27,000 have been committed to be spent during 1981 on the introduction of new equipment to improve services for the audiological screening of very young children.
A number of other initiatives will be announced as arrangments are completed.