Disabled People (Hansard, 26 April 1988)

§ Mr. Scott

As I said in my earlier reply on 29 March at column445 the two reports are by the Secretary General of the United Nations. Report A/42/551 was in response to a request to the Secretary General for information on (a) the establishment and reinforcement of national committees as focal points for the United Nations decade (6) bilateral assistance relating to projects concerning the prevention of disabilities, rehabilitation and equalisation of opportunities and (c) the voluntary fund. Report A/ 42/561 sets out an evaluation by the Secretary General of the implementation of the world programme of action during the first half of the decade 1983–92.

The United Kingdom Government support the overall objectives of the United Nations world programme of action and takes them into account when developing policies for disabled people. The Government, the statutory authorities and the voluntary sector are involved in the development of policy and services within the United Kingdom for disabled people. We also participate at the international level in activities undertaken by the European Community, the Council of Europe and Rehabilitation International. Therefore, given these involvements, we do not feel that a national committee specifically related to overseeing the United Nations programme would serve any useful purpose.

With respect to overseas aid, rather than contribute to the voluntary fund we support the general aims of the world programme by assisting specific projects under our bilateral aid programmes administered by the Overseas Development Administration. We also jointly fund, with various British charities, rehabilitation programmes and projects to assist disabled people.

With regard to the recommendation of the governing council of the United Nations development programme that a global campaign be promoted to raise awareness and mobilise resources in support of the objectives of the 124W world programme of action, we would like to await specific proposals from the Secretary General on how this could proceed.