§ Mr. AshleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will consider including information on the development of community care provision for people with physical disabilities in his annual report to Parliament under section 11 of the Disabled Persons (Services, Consultation and Representation) Act 1986, when implemented;
(2) if he will consider proposing amendments to section 7 of the Disabled Persons (Services, Consultation and Representation) Act 1986 to include people with physical disabilities.
§ Mr. Mellor[holding answer 1 March 1989]: No. Section 11 of the Act requires that an annual report be laid before Parliament containing information about the development of health and social services in the 323W community for people with mental illness or mental handicap, and about the numbers of such people who are receiving treatment in hospital. Section 7 provides for the identification of people discharged from hospital after treatment of six months or more for a mental disorder, and for the assessment of their needs for welfare services. We accepted the need to include these particular provisions when the Bill was going through Parliament, but are not convinced that a similar need arises for other types of disability.