§ Rev. Martin SmythTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he will make a statement about the surveys on disability being carried out by his Department; what detailed arrangements are being made to make use of experience gained in the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys survey in Great Britain; and what consultations have taken place with organisa-tions concerned with disability in Northern Ireland.
§ Mr. Ian StewartThe study of disability, which the Government announced on 15 December 1988 would be carried out in Northern Ireland, will cover all types of disabilities, mental as well as physical, all age groups and include people living in various forms of communal establishments as well as in private households. The research in Northern Ireland will replicate and develop work conducted by the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys in Great Britain and will be conducted by the policy planning and research unit of the Department of Finance and Personnel on behalf of a number of Northern Ireland Departments. Regular contact has been main-tained with OPCS during the planning stages and continued use is being made of their experience. An initial meeting has been held with the director of the Northern Ireland Council on Disability to inform him of the study 421W and further consultations will take place with various organisations concerned with disability in Northern Ireland.