§ Mr. BoswellTo ask the Secretary of State for Health when he will publish a strategy document on people with learning disabilities. [140394]
§ Mr. Hutton[holding answer 29 November 2000]: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced in October 1999 that work was to start on developing a new national learning disability strategy. Work has been taken forward in six working groups—children, family carers, supporting independence, health, partnerships, workforce planning and training—whose membership included representatives of central and local government, the health service, academic interests, voluntary organisations, service users, their families and carers. Seven regional seminars held between March and May provided occasions for local organisations—local authorities, health authorities, service providers, service users, and carers—to hear about and contribute to the strategy.
I announced in October that the strategy is to be published as a White Paper in the early months of next year.