MACULAR DEGENERATION

Early day motion 255, tabled 25 January 2001 by David Crausby (Labour). Signed by 57 members.

That this House notes that macular degeneration is the most common cause of registrable visual impairment in older people in the UK and affects some 600,000 people; believes that access to electronic low vision aids should not be restricted to those who can afford to buy them or left to charities like the Macular Disease Society to provide; welcomes the extra ú105 million recently announced by the Department of Health for community equipment services; and calls upon the Government to ensure that adequate resources from these funds are made available for sufferers of age-related macular disease in order to help them maintain independence and mobility.

Signatures by party: Labour 44, Liberal Democrat 8, Labour/Co-operative 3, Plaid Cymru 1, UUP 1.