§ Mr. HannamTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to ensure that local authorities are required to allow disabled people to give their views about their community care needs during the assessment procedure and are required to produce a written statement of the outcome of the assessment procedure if requested by the disabled person.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyOur White Paper "Caring for People" said that assessments should take account of the wishes of the individual. This includes disabled people. In our guidance to local authorities on assessment procedures we intend to emphasise the importance of involving the individual user in the assessment. We also intend to make it clear that decisions should be conveyed in writing when requested by the person concerned.