HC Deb 24 April 1985 vol 77 cc489-90W
Mr. Alfred Morris

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will list the number of cases and the rate per 1,000 population in each local authority who received assistance with the provision of aids in 1983–84;

(2) if he will list the number of cases and the rate per 1,000 population in each local authority who received assistance with holidays in 1983–84;

(3) if he will list the number of cases and the rate per 1,000 population in each local authority who received assistance with the installation of telephones in 1983–84;

(4) if he will list the number of cases and the rate per 1,000 population in each local authority who received assistance with the payment of telephone rentals in 1983–84.

Mr. Newton

In view of the volume of information, I am sending it to the right hon. Member. I will also place copies in the Library.

Mr. Alfred Morris

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the number of cases and the rate per 1,000 population in each local authority who received assistance with adaptations to the home in 1983–84.

Mr. Newton

The Department did not collect information for 1983–84 on the total number of cases assisted with adaptations, for the reasons given in my reply to the right hon. Member on 3 April 1984, at column480, to his request for similar information relating to 1982–83. The collection of these returns has, however, been resumed for the current year.

Mr. Alfred Morris

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what use is made of the statistics gathered annually by his Department from individual local authorities concerning the number of cases of assistance given with regard to the provision of aids, adaptations, holidays and the installation and rental of telephones; and during which month each year they become available from his Department.

Mr. Newton

These data provide one of the inputs to the Department's development of policy on services for disabled people, and to its monitoring of trends in provision. The information, which is published annually, is also drawn on by local authorities themselves, voluntary and private organisations and others with an interest in this field, including, of course, right hon. and hon. Members. Provisional figures are usually available from the Department about seven or eight months after the end of the year to which they refer, and final figures after about 10 months.