§ Mr. Alfred Morrisasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much his Department spent in the last 12 months on education and publicity aimed at countering discrimination against disabled people; if he will set out in the Official Report full details of the expenditure incurred; and how much is to be spent in the financial year 1983–84.
§ Mr. John Patten[pursuant to his reply, 25 February 1983, c. 562]: Information is not available in the form requested. However, it is a key aim of Government policy in Northern Ireland to counter discrimination against disabled people by providing a range of statutory services designed to help them realise their full potential and to increase public awareness of the range of activities of which they are capable. I consider that this work, the publicity associated with it and the financial support for voluntary bodies concerned with the disabled make a positive impact on educating the public and countering discrimination.