§ Mrs. Dunwoodyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what provision has been made for the study of the role of specialist advisers and social service staff in local authority social service departments in relation to the physically handicapped by his Department, including any grants for such studies in the last three years.
§ Sir George YoungThis subject is one of the Department's research priorities in the field of physical disability and sensory impairment. Two studies have been commissioned.
University of Keele; Professor Olive Stevenson
A three year study commissioned in June 1979 which includes an investigation of the role and function of specialist advisers for physical disability and of the effectiveness of different arrangements made for their deployment in Social Services Departments. Estimated cost £121,000.York University Social Policy Research Unit; Dr. Jonathan BradshawProject concerned with the development and evaluation of the role of specialist social workers concerned with severely handicapped children. The final report of this project is now being considered by the Department. Estimated cost £67,000.