HC Deb 13 March 1990 vol 169 cc153-4W
Mr. Alfred Morris

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what assessment he has made of the advantages that will accrue to people with disabilities in 1992 on completion of the single market in relation to any benefits, goods or services they receive in respect of their disabilities; if he will list them; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Scott

The United Kingdom is currently included in the European Communities' second action programme in favour of disabled people called HELIOS. A major component is the development of "Handynet", a multilingual, multinational computerised database of information for people with disabilities. The first module "Handyaids" is expected to have beneficial effects by stimulating consumption production and competition. This should give rise to economies of scale, leading to a reduction in the price of products and improving their quality.

As for social security, the completion of the internal market will not in itself have any effect on the situation of people with disabilities in the United Kingdom.