HC Deb 21 April 1995 vol 258 cc473-4

"—(1) Subject to subsection (3) below, in any case where—

  1. (a) a local authority carry out an assessment under section 47(1)(a) of the National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990 of the needs of a person ("the relevant person") for community care services; and
  2. (b) an individual ("the carer") provides or intends to provide a substantial amount of care on a regular basis for the relevant person,
the carer may request the local authority, before they make their decision as to whether the needs of the relevant person call for the provision of any services, to carry out an assessment of his ability to provide and to continue to provide care for the relevant person; and if he makes such a request, the local authority shall carry out such an assessment and shall take into account the results of that assessment in making that decision.

(2) Subject to subsection (3) below, in any case where—

  1. (a) a local authority assess the needs of a disabled child for the purposes of Part III of the Children Act 1989 or section 2 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970; and
  2. (b) an individual ("the carer") provides or intends to provide a substantial amount of care on a regular basis for the disabled child,
the carer may request the local authority, before they make their decision as to whether the needs of the disabled child call for the provision of any services, to carry out an assessment of his ability to provide and to continue to provide care for the disabled child; and if he makes such a request, the local authority shall carry out such an assessment and shall take into account the results of that assessment in making that decision.

(3) No request may be made under subsection (1) or (2) above by an individual who provides or will provide the care in question—

  1. (a) by virtue of a contract of employment or other contract with any person; or
  2. (b) as a volunteer for a voluntary organisation.

(4) The Secretary of State may give directions as to the manner in which an assessment under subsection (1) or (2) above is to be carried out or the form it is to take but, subject to any such directions, it shall be carried out in such manner and take such form as the local authority consider appropriate.

(5) Section 8 of the Disabled Persons (Services, Consultation and Representation) Act 1986 (duty of local authority to take into account ability of carers) shall not apply in any case where—

  1. (a) an assessment is made under subsection (1) above in respect of an individual who provides the care in question for a disabled person; or
  2. (b) an assessment is made under subsection (2) above.

(6) In this section— community care services" has the meaning given by section 46(3) of the National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990; child" means a person under the age of eighteen; disabled child" means a child who is disabled within the meaning of Part III of the Children Act 1989; disabled person" means a person to whom section 29 of the National Assistance Act 1948 applies; local authority" has the meaning given by section 46(3) of the National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990; and voluntary organisation" has the same meaning as in the National Assistance Act 1948.

(7) In Schedule 1 to the Local Authority Social Services Act 1970 (enactments conferring functions assigned to social services committees) at the end there shall be inserted—

"Carers (Recognition and Services) Act 1995 (c.00)
Section (Assessment of ability of carers to provide care: England and Wales) Assessment of ability of carers to provide care.".'.—[Mr. Wicks.]

Brought up, read the First and Second time, and added to the Bill.

Ms Rachel Squire

rose—

The Second Deputy Chairman

We are having a slight private confab. I am not quite sure whether the hon. Lady is seeking to move her amendment.

Ms Squire

By leave of the House, I beg to ask leave to withdraw my amendment.

The Second Deputy Chairman

The hon. Lady does not need to withdraw the amendment if she has not moved it, but this is the point at which she would need to move it if that was going to be done. I just wanted to clarify the matter so that we did not move on swiftly and leave undone something that we ought to have done.

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