asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what number of telephone installations have been granted by his Department to the housebound in the county of Nottinghamshire.

The provision of telephones for the housebound and others who are substantially and permanently handicapped is mainly a matter for local authorities, who have powers to help in appropriate cases. The Supplementary Benefits Commission will, however, use its discretionary powers to give extra help in a small number of special cases where a telephone would be the only means of communication in an emergency. The Commission has assisted one such case in the county since detailed records began to be kept in April, 1970.