§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will take steps to encourage disabled people in forming and operating their own voluntary organisations in order to ameliorate their condition and thereby supplement the statutory services.
§ Mr. NewtonWe already give encouragement to this important activity, and provide grants for several national disability organisations which foster such developments. Disabled people should also benefit from our general policy of promoting self-help activities by, for example, sponsoring the publication of "Working with Self-Help Groups: a guide for local professionals" (Bedford Square Press, 1984), and the small scheme of grants we are planning with the voluntary sector to support the appointment of local generalist development officers for self-help groups.