§ Mr. FearnTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what steps he has taken to advertise benefits available to disabled people.
§ Mr. ScottSince January 1990 we are taking the following steps to advertise benefits available to disabled people:
- i. Regular local radio and regional TV broadcasts involving our team of regional information officers.
- ii. Displays and mobile advice units in communities across the country, which include talks to carers and disabled people, visits to hospitals, day centres and other similar organisations.
- iii. National press campaigns advertising changes to disability benefits aimed at specialist carers and people with disabilities.
- iv. A specialist press, mail-out and press editorial campaign to announce changes to attendance allowance.
- v. A publicity campaign on mobility allowance directed at carers and advisers of people who are both deaf and blind. This consists of direct mailings supported by free editorial coverage in press and radio.
- vi. A campaign to announce a new telephone advice and information service for people with disabilities. As part of this service, for those people with impaired vision or who are blind we are providing letters and forms in Braille and large print.
Special telecommunications facilities are available for those people with hearing difficulties. This advertising campaign is currently being run in southern England and is due to be run nationwide at the end of June.