HC Deb 23 July 1986 vol 102 cc305-7W
Mr. Alfred Morris

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will list, from 1970 to date, the number of cases in each year referred to him where it is

Persons registered as handicapped with Social Services Departments under Section 29 of the National Assistance Act 1948*
England Number of persons (thousands)†
Blind Partially sighted Deaf‡ Hard of hearing‡ Other‡
1970║ 95.7 34.2 24.3 16.5 234.1
1972¶ 96.4 35.7 23.1 15.8 304.2
1973 97.3 36.9 25.9 18.8 398.6
1974 98.1 38.0 25.8 20.1 497.2
1975 99.3 40.9 25.6 20.4 579.5
1976 101.1 42.9 27.5 25.5 657.2
1977 102.8 45.4 27.8 27.0 717.0
1978 104.7 47.6 28.9 31.1 787.2
1979 105.3 49.2 29.1 32.4 846.8
1980 107.8 51.4 29.7 35.1 900.7
1981 n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. 954.8

alleged that a local authority has been in default of its duties under section 2 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970;

(2) if he will list, from 1970 to date, the number of cases in each year investigated by him where it is alleged that a local authority has been in default of its duties under section 2 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970; in how many cases the local authority was found to be in default; and what action he took in any such case.

Mr. Newton

The number of cases referred to the Secretary of State since 1978 where it is alleged that a local authority has been in default of its duties under section 2 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970 are as follows:

Number
1978 6
1979 4
1980 5
1981 20
1982 3
1983 3
1984 5
1985 7
1986 1

In none of the cases in which investigations were completed was it judged necessary for my right hon. Friend to exercise his default powers. Inquiries are continuing on six complaints.

Information about complaints before 1978 could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Mr. Alfred Morris

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many local authorities are subject to the functions imposed by section 2 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970; and what information he has, for each year since 1970, as to how many people were registered in total pursuant to section 1(1) of the Act as being persons to whom that section applies.

Mr. Newton

All of the 109 social services departments in England are subject to the functions imposed by section 2 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970.

Section 1(1) of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970 requires local authorities to inform themselves of the number of persons within their area to whom section 29 of the National Assistance Act 1948 applies. The number of persons registered under section 29 since 1970 are given in the table.

England Number of persons (thousands)†
Blind Partially sighted Deaf‡ Hard of hearing‡ Other†
1982 111.7 58.0 n.a. n.a. n.a.
1983 n.a. n.a. 31.8 47.2 n.a.
1984 n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. 1102.6
n.a. Data not available. From 1980 onwards these data were collected on a sequential and triennial basis.
* Not all persons who could register do so.
† The different categories overlap as a proportion of the disabled have more than one disablement.
‡Excluding persons on the register of the blind.
║ The figures relate to 31 December prior to 1972 and to 31 March thereafter.
¶ The figures for 1972 are not complete.

Mr. Alfred Morris

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what information he has as to the number of cases in which court proceedings have been instituted under the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970.

Mr. Newton

We are aware of five cases where court proceedings have been initiated in connection with complaints of alleged failure by local authorities to comply with the requirements of section 2 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act. The Department would not necessarily be aware of court proceedings to which they were not a party.