asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is satisfied with the take-up of benefits by disabled people in the light of the finding by Professor Townsend in "Poverty in the United Kingdom" that the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys survey on handicapped and impaired in Great Britain underestimated the numbers of handicapped people by half; and if he will make a statement.

Varying assessments of the numbers of disabled people are possible, depending upon the yardstick employed. I am well aware of the importance of ensuring that those eligible for benefits apply for them. Publicity is given to such benefits in a wide variety of ways in an attempt to reach all concerned.