§ Mr. Anthony CoombsTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has for implementing the recommendations of the 1988 report on "Information Needs of Disabled People, Their Carers and Service Providers," prepared by Coopers and Lybrand.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyThis report, which has been widely welcomed, highlighted the importance of improving information services for disabled people and those who care for them. It recommended a three stage strategy:
- —the development of a national framework for the provision of information services to disabled people
- —the creation of local "federations" of information providers, responsive to the needs of the community
- —specific initiatives to develop improved common information services within the context of a national framework sensitive to local needs
In 1990, we commissioned a study by PE International to identify the managerial and resource requirements of implementing such a strategy. Following PEI's conclusions, we now intend to commit .3 million, subject to Parliamentary approval over three years (1991–1994) for a pilot initiative, known as the National Disability Information Projects, with the following objectives:
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- —Nationally, to promote closer working between organisations which collect and disseminate information of national relevance, with clear objectives to reduce duplication and improve the relevance and accuracy of information.
- —Locally, to encourage the development of federations of information providers, in order to achieve greater co-ordination at the local level and to widen access to information.
The national disability information project will build on the achievements of a number of local federations already in existence, including those developed as part of the Oxford regional health authority information project which is supported by the Department of Health.