Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to people with arthritis have access to aids and adaptations to help them complete essential daily tasks.

We know that aids and adaptations can greatly enhance the quality of life of older and disabled people, including those with arthritis, in addition to supporting them to be as independent as possible in their own homes.

The Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) supports disabled people, on low-incomes, to adapt their homes to make them safe and suitable for their needs. Funding had already increased year-on-year, rising from £220 million in 2015-16 to £431 million in 2017-18. The Autumn Budget 2017 provided an additional £42 million for the remainder of the 2017-18 financial year. The grant is £468 million in 2018-19 and funding will rise further to £505 million by 2019-20.

An independent review of the DFG is due to complete shortly. It will assess how the DFG is currently working, and make evidence-based recommendations on how it could change in the future. It will also consider wider adaptations issues including how the DFG might need to adapt to the changing aids and adaptations market, and whether it could support the adoption of new innovations and technology, and new designs.