§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how much financial assistance he has provided towards the two residential centres for deaf-blind people recently completed; what this was as a proportion of the total cost; and what contribution he is making to the running costs.
§ Mr. RossiFixed sum grants of £150,000 and £40,000 were given towards the capital costs of the residential units at Poolmead and Market Deeping respectively over the period 1978–80. The final capital costs are a matter for the Royal National Institute for the Deaf and the National Association for the Deaf/Blind and Rubella Handicapped who provided the establishments. No Government contribution is made to the running costs of the centres, most of which are met by fees from agencies sponsoring residents.
§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Service why he has been unable to estimate the extent of any unidentified errors which may have resulted in deaf-blind people being wrongly classified as mentally handicapped.
§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Service what steps he has taken to improve and update the statistical data on deaf-blind people from the latest data of 31 March 1979.
§ Mr. RossiThe recent review of Government statistics proposed that these data, including age breakdown, be collected once every three years. Accordingly, local authorities have been asked to make returns for 1982, and these figures will be available early in the new year.
§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services why no comprehensive record is maintained centrally of facilities available to assist deaf-blind people; and if he will take steps to prepare such a record.
§ Mr. RossiDeaf-blind people often have additional handicaps which will affect the type of facility they need. It would not be practicable to compile a comprehensive central record of the wide range of provision available to this group. Rather, our concern is to ensure that services are provided to meet individual needs.