§ Mr. ThurnhamTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to increase the participation of disabled people in the planning of their own community care services; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. FreemanOur White Paper "Caring for People" (Cmnd. 849) sets out our detailed proposals for the future organisation of community care, including arrangements designed to widen room for choice by those who require such care and provide more appropriate services closer to their wishes and needs. In particular our proposals for multidisciplinary assessment of need, whether for residential care or support at home (paragraph 3.2) lay particular stress on the need to take account of the wishes of the individual and his or her carer, and as far as possible to include their active participation in the assessment.