§ Mr. Tom ClarkeTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services, pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Monklands, West of Tuesday 7 June,Official Report, column 573, whether he has yet arranged a meeting with local authority associations on the implementation of the Disabled Persons (Services, Representation and Consultation) Act 1986; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. ScottOfficials met representatives of the local authority associations on 4 July to discuss the implementation of the remaining sections of the Act. We hope to implement section 11 soon. Of the other sections, representatives of the local authorities share our view that priority should be given to implementing section 7, and we have already started detailed work on this. The next priority is to implement sections 1, 2, and 3. The financial implications of each section must, of course, be agreed before implementation.