§ Sir David Priceasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list any specific contributions his Department has made to the International Year of Disabled People.
§ Mr. Peter WalkerDuring the International Year of Disabled People we have provided car parking facilities specifically for disabled visitors at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, and Wakehurst Place and additional invalid chair ramps have been installed and pathways widened to give easy access to display houses and the gardens. These developments add to the facilities for the disabled which were already provided at both establishments.
Elsewhere we have provided suitable toilet facilities and bought special office furniture. We have also supplied two special electronic aids for the blind. These enable information to be stored and retrieved by blind people and have proved of the greatest value to the officers concerned. My Department has been among the first to purchase such equipment.
Members of my staff have made their own special contributions to the International Year of Disabled People. Two divisional offices, Carlisle and Truro, each raised £1, 000 in events run for disabled charities while at Hereford staff took part in the Wye raft race and raised nearly £4, 000 through their efforts.
By granting special leave with pay my Department made it possible for an officer from Leeds to participate in the World Games for the Deaf held at Cologne, West Germany.