§ Sir David Priceasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what have been his Department's specific contributions to the International Year of Disabled People.
§ Mr. HeseltineI refer to the reply I gave the right hon. Member for Manchester, Wythenshawe (Mr. Morris) and the hon. Member for Caernarvon (Mr. Wigley) on 19 January 1981 when I outlined the range of measures being undertaken by my Department in connection with the International Year of Disabled People.—[Vol. 997, c.63–64.]
My Department has now produced a film and accompanying information literature about housing for the disabled and arrangements are being made for the film to be shown throughout the country. The research studies on the review of circular 59/78, and into housing for mentally ill and handicapped people are in progress. Awards have been made both in the RADAR 1981 building for the 25W disabled award and in the DOE/RIBA/NHBC housing design award scheme. Some 65 projects for the disabled are being funded through the 1981 urban programme and in addition some 61 schemes run in the school holidays during 1981 have been for handicapped children and young people. I have again made clear that groups with special needs, such as the elderly and disabled, should continue to be major priorities in public sector housing investment.
In addition, we have extended the priority rates and higher eligible expense limits in the home improvement grant system to works needed to make dwellings suitable for occupation by disabled persons; severely disabled people on low incomes can now benefit from higher rates of grant under the homes insulation scheme; and a special exemption from planning fees is available to disabled people needing to extend or alter their homes in connection with their disability.