To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many persons were registered as disabled on 31 December 1984, 1985, 1986 and 1987; and how many of those aged between 16 and 65 years were (a) in full-time employment, (b) in part-time employment,(c) registered as unemployed and (d) known to the Department not to be in employment;(2) how many persons registered as disabled, but not in employment, were in receipt of
(a) unemployment benefit, (b) sickness and invalidity benefit, (c) supplementary benefit and (d) free prescriptions on each of 31 December 1984, 1985, 1986 and 1987.
The available information on the numbers of persons registered as disabled with local authorities in England (for the years specified) is set out in the table. I regret that the remaining information requested is not collected centrally. Figures for the rest of Great Britain are a matter for my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland, and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.
| Number of persons with disabilities registered with local authority social services departments (England) | |||
| Type of disability | Year1 | All persons | Persons aged 16–64 years |
| Physically disabled (general classes) | 1984 | 1,107,708 | 370,386 |
| Blind or partially sighted | 1986 | 191,652 | 41,304 |
| Deaf or hard of hearing | 1986 | 97,431 | 33,149 |
| 1 All figures as at 31 March. | |||
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will estimate the cost to his Department of giving free prescriptions for persons registered as disabled but who do not qualify under the present regulations.
The information needed to make a reliable estimate is not available.