HC Deb 22 December 1988 vol 144 cc386-7W
Mr. Hannam

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) on what date he plans to implement(a) section 1, (b) section 2 and (c) section 3 of the Disabled Persons (Services, Consultation and Representation) Act 1986; and if he will make a statement;

(2) if his Department has undertaken any studies on the implementation of section 3 of the Disabled Persons (Services, Consultation and Representation) Act 1986; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Scott

Each section of the Act will be implemented as and when the necessary resources can be identified and made available. We are making good progress on implementation, with six key sections now in force. We have agreed with the local authority associations that section 7 is the next priority, and detailed work on sections 1, 2 and 3 will follow as soon as possible.

Mr. Hannam

To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he has any plans to extend section 11 of the Disabled Persons (Services, Consultation and Representation) Act 1986 to include information relating to the development of community care services for people with physical and sensory disabilities; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Mellor

Section 11 of the Act requires that an annual report be laid before Parliament containing information about the development of health and social services in the community for people with mental illness or mental handicap, and about the numbers of such people who are receiving treatment in hospital. We accepted the need to include this particular provision when the Bill was going through Parliament, but are not convinced that a similar need arises for other types of disability.

Mr. Hannam

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures his Department is taking to monitor the implementation of(a) section 5, (b) section 6 and (c) section 9 of the Disabled Persons (Services, Consultation and Representation) Act 1986; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Mellor

The Department's social services inspectorate is engaged in several exercises to monitor those sections of the Act which have already been implemented. Reports will be available during 1989.