HC Deb 01 February 1982 vol 17 cc37-8W
Mr. Alfred Morris

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what was the total extra cost to his Department of its contributions to the International Year of Disabled People.

Mr. Pattie

I gave details of the Ministry of Defence's extensive contribution to the International Year of the Disabled, covering both local and central initiatives in my recent answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Eastleigh (Sir D. Price) on 18 January 1982—[Vol. 16, c.37].

The majority of local activities were organised by individual Service and civilian staff who gave freely of their spare time; generally the activities were organised, and held, outside working hours and little in the way of cost was incurred by the Department. Central initiatives were organised by those whose normal work includes responsibility for matters concerning disabled people and the question of extra costs for this does not arise.

Some costs were incurred—over and above normal expenditure—on items such as internal publicity of activities and prizes for competitions. The total extra cost of these items amounted to approximately £2,900.