§ Lord Henderson of Bromptonasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they can estimate the annual cost to (a) the Exchequer, (b) local authorities and (c) the private sector, of benefits, pensions, allowance and services to the disabled and handicapped, excluding any cost attributable to the NHS and DES.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health and Social Security (Lord Glenarthur)Not all the information requested is available. Central Government support for disabled people is principally in the form of benefits, pensions and allowances paid to the long-term sick and disabled; these amounted to about £3,500 million in 1982–83. Local authority gross current spending on personal social services principally for the younger physically disabled and mentally handicapped was about £300 million in that year; this figure excludes spending on services (for example, social work) which serve a variety of client groups. Details of relevant private sector spending are not held centrally.