§ Miss Emma NicholsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will give consideration to legislation to provide dependent adults with legal status, basic rights and social protection should their carer be unable to provide for them;
(2) what powers exist for the appropriate authorities to ensure that the rights and health of dependent adults are safeguarded in the event of their carer being unable to provide for them;
(3) what protection exists to safeguard the care of dependent adults in the event of their carer being unable to provide for them;
(4) what steps he plans to take to ensure that dependent adults' personal and medical welfare is properly protected by effective liaison between all interested professional parties in the event of their carer being unable to provide for them.
§ Mr. FreemanSection 47 of the National Assistance Act 1948 and sections 115 and 135 of the Mental Health Act 1983 empower local authorities to take action to safeguard the welfare of dependent people who are not receiving proper care. The exercise of these powers is a matter for the local authority concerned which will need to keep in touch with the appropriate health authority. When failures of care come to light we ask the authorities for reports which are carefully studied to see whether any action is called for.