§ Mr. Tom ClarkeTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to the oral answer by the Minister for Social Security and Disabled People to the hon. Member for Dumbarton (Mr. McFall) of 12 NovemberOfficial Report, column 143–44, if he will list the issues on which the National Disability Council has offered advice to Ministers on its own initiative; if he will list the dates on which such advice was offered; and if he will indicate in which cases Ministers (a) accepted and (b) rejected such advice. [4763]
§ Mr. BurtThe Government have regular contact with the National Disability Council. The council has given advice on a wide range of issues relevant to the reduction and elimination of discrimination against disabled people. The Disability Discrimination Act 1995 requires the National Disability Council to provide the Secretary of State with an annual report which he must lay before Parliament and arrange for further publication as he considers appropriate. The annual report for 1995–96 was published on 9 July 1996. Copies were placed in the Library. It records, among other things, advice the council has given during the previous financial year. The council is required to produce a similar report as soon as is practicable after the current financial year.