§ Mr. Arnoldasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what recent assessment he has made of the number of people with footwear problems; and if he will specify the amount of the financial support he gives to organisations working to alleviate them; (2) whether he is satisfied with the effectiveness of those organisations in receipt of financial support from his Department working to help people with footwear problems.
§ Mr. John PattenWe do not have the information needed to form the estimate requested by my hon. Friend. The Department does not at present support any organisations concerned specifically with footwear problems, though the Health Education Council has cooperated with the Foot Health Council and the Society of Chiropodists in the production of a booklet on "Your Child's Feet", and we also contributed £12,500 in 1983–84 to the home safety campaign conducted jointly by Age Concern and the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents in which attention was given to the question of suitable footwear for elderly people. Recent work in this field by the Disabled Living Foundation has been funded by other charitable bodies.