§ Mr. Alfred MorrisTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many deaf-blind people were resident in the area of each local authority at the latest date for which figures are available; how many local authorities do not currently offer basic rehabilitation and social work support services for deaf-blind people; what action he is taking to improve local provision for them; and if he will make a statement. [27142]
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonThe table shows the number of blind and partially sighted people with deafness as an additional disability, resident in each local authority region as at 31 March 1995.
Persons registered blind who are also deaf: 31 March 1995 Region Registered blind with deafness as an additional disability Registered partially sighted with deafness as an additional disability Borders 22 9 Central 100 27 Dumfries and Galloway 31 21 Fife 27 26 Grampian 257 142 Highland 129 45 Lothian 114 71 Strathclyde 720 204 Tayside 43 25 Orkney 13 7 Shetland 0 0 Western Isles 4 1 Scotland 1,460 578 Information about the number of local authorities that do not currently offer basic rehabilitation and social work support services for deaf-blind people is not held centrally.
Under our community care arrangements, local authorities are required to tailor services to individual needs through comprehensive multi-disciplinary assessments, including the appointment of a care manager. This results in significant scope for local authorities to provide rehabilitation and social work support services themselves or, where this is not possible, to purchase these from the independent sector, particularly voluntary organisations.
176WThe Government have identified people with sensory impairments as a priority for grant funding. Grants have been awarded to voluntary organisations including Sense and the National Deaf-Blind and Rubella Association and the National Deaf-Blind League to provide assistance with awareness training for staff working with deaf-blind adults and children and to improve the provision of rehabilitation, information, support and communication systems.
Local authorities are required to develop joint plans for the provision of services to disabled people, including those with a sensory impairment, and in doing so to consult them, their carers and those voluntary agencies which represent their interests. We are closely monitoring these plans to ensure that adequate progress is being made in developing services for deaf-blind people.