§ Lord Morris of Manchesterasked Her Majesty's Government:
What consideration they have given to the report The Housing Time Bomb, recently published by MENCAP, on the difficulties faced by people with a learning disability living with older parents aged 70 and above; and what action they are taking in relation to its findings. [HL5100]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Lord Hunt of Kings Heath)We recognise that there is particular concern about the position of people with learning disabilities living with older carers aged 70 and over. They and their families must be able to plan for the future in good time. Promoting supported living for older people with learning disabilities is one of the priorities for both the revenue and capital elements of the £42 million Learning Disability Development Fund, announced in the White PaperValuing People: A New Strategy for Learning Disability for the 21st Century published in March 2001. The fund has been made available to the new learning disability partnership boards, now established in each local authority area.
The needs of elderly carers and the development of supported living approaches for people with learning disabilities living with older carers are also identified as priorities in the implementation guidance, which was 24WA sent to all local authority chief executives, social services directors and directors of housing. Partnership boards, working with local housing authorities, people with learning disabilities, carers and service providers, are required to develop local housing strategies by winter 2002–03.
We have received a copy of MENCAP'S report "The Housing Timebomb" (June 2002), which considers housing, care and support issues affecting people with learning disabilities living with older parents. We will consider the report and its recommendations carefully.