§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list in the Official Report the most recent steps he has taken to help the international efforts being made to assist the 400 million people who are disabled in the Third world.
§ Mr. RaisonWe have no sectoral aid allocations within the aid programme and therefore no funds specifically set aside for the disabled. However, a number of projects funded under our regular aid programme contribute directly or indirectly to the welfare of the 313W disabled in developing countries and help to prevent disability, in particular some of those we fund jointly with voluntary agencies. For example over the past nine months we have agreed to joint fund with Oxfam fhe following projects to disabled persons:
- India—Prerana Trust soap manufacturing by disabled.
- Bangladesh—Centre for Rehabilitation of the Paralysed.
- Burma—Mary Chapman school for deaf and dumb—extension to school building.
- India—Prabha Institute training handicapped women.
- India—Kerala Federation of the Blind—guidance counselling service.
- India—St. Joseph's Prashanthi Nivas—rehabilitation of destitutes and handicapped.
- India—Bhagwan Mahavir Viklang Sahayata—rehabilitation of the physically handicapped.
- India—Leprosy Patients Welfare Society—rehabilitation.
- Indonesia—Centre for Cerebral Palsy—rural rehabilitation of handicapped.
§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) if he will make arrangements to meet representatives of the Third world group for disabled people to discuss their future programme and the ways in which his Department may be able to help;
(2) what financial assistance he has given so far to the Third world group for disabled people; and what future plans he has.
§ Mr. RaisonThe Third world group of the national IYDP committee received grants from the ODA of £3,000 and £5,000 in the last two years. I have no plans for providing further assistance at this stage, but would be willing to meet representatives of the group.