§ Mr. Michael Marshallasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what sources of information on the various aids for the disabled are available to private individuals seeking to purchase equipment for their own use, for doctors and social workers seeking to provide publicly-funded equipment for clients' or patients' use and for National Health Service staff wishing to acquire such aids in bulk for use within their area.
§ Mr. NewtonThere is a wide variety of sources of information about aids and equipment for disabled people but these are not clearly and separately designed for the different classes of user referred to by my hon. Friend. The sources include information available from the Disabled Living Foundation and from many voluntary bodies serving particular disability groups, Reports published by the Department and other bodies on the assessment and evaluation of particular ranges of equipment, manufacturers' own publicity material and information available at aids centres and exhibitions such as NAIDEX.
All these sources are mentioned in the Department's booklet 'Aids for the Disabled' (HB2) a copy of which I am sending to my hon. Friend.
Additional advice and information is available to supplies officers within the National Health Service, from this Department and the particular health regions responsible for procurement policy in aids and equipment.