§ Mr. AshleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what guidance his Department has given to local authorities concerning the provision of information under section 9 of the Disabled Persons (Services, Consultation and Representation) Act 1986; and if he will make a statement;
(2) what measures his Department is taking to ensure that information on services for disabled people under section 9 of the Disabled Persons (Services, Consultation and Representation) Act 1986 is made available in ethnic minority languages; and if he will make a statement;
(3) what measures his Department is taking to ensure that information on services for disabled people under section 9 of the Disabled Persons (Services, Consultation and Representation) Act 1986 is made available on tape or in braille or on sign videos; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MellorLocal authority circular LAC(87)6, issued in March 1987, gave general guidance on section 9 of the Disabled Persons (Services, Consultation and Representation) Act 1986, together with other sections implemented on 1 April 1987. Local authorities are best placed to develop information services to meet the needs of disabled people, including the provision of braille text and leaflets in ethnic minority languages when appropriate. The Department recently issued circular LASSL(88)8 to both local and health authorities which drew attention to the importance of access to information about local and national services. Copies of both circulars have been placed in the Library.
§ Mr. AshleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures his Department is taking to monitor the implementation of section 4 of the Disabled Persons (Services, Consultation and Representation) Act 1986; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MellorThe Department's social services inspectorate is engaged in several exercises to monitor those sections of the Act so far implemented, which include section 4.
§ Mr. AshleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how he plans to ensure that the report made by him under section 11 of the Disabled Persons (Services, Consultation and Representation) Act 1986, when implemented, will be used to develop good community care practice.
§ Mr. MellorSection 11 of the Act requires that an annual report be laid before Parliament containing 599W information about the development of health and social services in the community for people with a mental illness or a mental handicap, and about the numbers of such people who are receiving treatment in hospital. Copies of the report will be made available to those statutorily responsible for providing relevant services, including community care.