Written question asked by John Baron (Conservative) on Wednesday, 15 March 2006, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Friday, 17 March 2006. It was answered by Liam Byrne (Labour) on Monday, 27 March 2006 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Guide Dogs for the Blind

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what consideration her Department is giving to joining the Rehabilitation Project Group led by the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association.

Answer: The Department receives a substantial number of requests to participate in studies and cannot devote resources to them all. We will not be joining the rehabilitation project group led by the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association but will be interested in seeing outcomes from the work of the group.We support the work done by the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association and the Department has given the association, in collaboration with other employers, through skills for care, £30,000 to redesign hybrid rehabilitation functions in working with visually impaired people.

Secondary information