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Northern Ireland Office;Social Security Agency

Answer

Rev. Martin Smyth: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment she has made of the difficulties which blind and partially sighted people experience in obtaining access to information on benefits. [54068] Mr. McFall: Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Social Security Agency under its Chief Executive, Mr. Chris Thompson. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given. Letter from Chris Thompson to Rev. Martin Smyth, dated 29 July 1998: I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about what assessment has been made of the difficulties which blind and partially sighted people experience in obtaining access to information on benefits. The Social Security Agency has not yet carried out any formal assessment of the needs of blind and partially sighted people. However, as you are aware the Benefits Agency are looking into the needs of these customers as part of the research for "Project Access". The findings of this project will be considered by the Social Security Agency. However, I am giving further consideration to the issue in Northern Ireland and I will write to you again shortly.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

317 c386W; 54068

Session

1997-98

Subjects

Information Northern Ireland Social security benefits Visual impairment