The purpose of this survey was to give reliable estimates of the number of handicapped people aged 16 and over, living in private households in Great Britain, and to examine what local authority health and welfare services were being made available to them to assist them to overcome their disablement as far as possible. Variables The main fields in interest were: (1) the cause of impairment, the extent to which impairment results in handicap as far as self-help is concerned, and the extent to which handicapped and impaired people are helped by the various local authorities; (2) to what extent handicapped and impaired housewives carry out their duties; (3) their housing conditions; (4) the effect of handicap and impairment on ability to get suitable employment, and (5) the effect of handicap and impairment on social life and leisure activities.