§ 3.10 p.m.
Lord CAMPBELL of CROYMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have yet decided how to amend the relevant legislation for England and Wales and for Scotland to provide for reduced rating assessments for dwellings adapted for equipment needed by severely disabled persons, so enabling more to live outside hospitals and institutions and helping to reduce public expenditure as a whole.
§ Baroness STEDMANMy Lords, Section 45 of the General Rate Act 1967 and Section 8 of the Valuation and Rating (Scotland) Act 1956 provide that, in assessing properties for rating purposes, structures provided to meet the needs of the disabled shall be left out of account. The Ministers concerned with rate relief for the disabled are urgently discussing the amending legislation which may be required in consequence of the decision of the House in the case of Vandyk v. 368 Oliver last year. I regret, however, that I am not yet in a position to say when they will be able to announce their conclusions.
Lord CAMPBELL of CROYMy Lords, I thank the noble Baroness for that Answer, especially as I detect some movement forward in that reply and I know that the noble Baroness herself is much concerned with this question. Is she aware that it is exactly a year this week since the Treasury Minister stated that changes were needed as a result of the confusing ambiguity which had been exposed in the courts? Will the Government give the very highest priority to enabling severely disabled persons to live outside institutions? This is clearly what they would prefer and, also, is probably the best therapy for them, and would greatly reduce the pressure on the health services.
§ Baroness STEDMANYes, my Lords. I accept what the noble Lord has said; that it is over a year since we first said that we hoped to make a statement shortly. Indeed, I have been guilty in this House twice within that period of saying "shortly". But we are really making movement now, and the noble Lord was right in saying that he detected movement. We are in the midst of consultations. The noble Lord will appreciate that the Scottish position is slightly different from the English one, and we should like to do what we are going to do, at the same time. I assure the noble Lord that we are sympathetic towards his views, and I still hope that this time "shortly" may mean shortly.
§ Baroness YOUNGMy Lords, can the noble Baroness say whether this matter will be considered when the proposals following upon the Layfield Committee Report are considered, on which I believe a statement is shortly to be made?
§ Baroness STEDMANMy Lords, I cannot prejudge what will be in the statement on the Layfield Report, or whether it will be made in advance of this one. But I should not have thought that there would be a very long delay between them, and I am reasonably certain that when the statements are made noble Lords opposite, and those behind me, will find them satisfactory.