§ Mr. WigleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what consultations he has had with(a) health authorities and (b) local authority associations in Wales concerning the regulations to be made under section 2(7) of the Disabled Persons (Services, Consultation and Representation) Act 1986 in order to extend the rights of authorised representatives; and if he will make a statement;
(2) when he intends to lay an order to bring into force (a) sections 1 and 2 and (b) section 3 of the Disabled Persons (Services, Consultation and Representation) Act 1986; and if he will make a statement;
(3) what consultations he is having with local authority associations in Wales concerning the implementation of sections 1, 2 and 3 of the Disabled Persons (Services, Consultation and Representation) Act 1986; and if he will make a statement;
(4) what consultations he has had with voluntary organisations in Wales concerning the regulations to be made under section 1 of the Disabled Persons (Services, Consultation and Representation) Act 1986; and if he will make a statement;
(5) what representations he has received from voluntary organisations in Wales concerning the implementation of 54W sections 1, 2 and 3 of the Disabled Persons (Services, Consultation and Representation) Act 1986; and if be will make a statement.
§ Mr. GristVoluntary organisations representing people with disabilities and their carers in Wales have often expressed their understandable desire for early implementation of the remaining sections of the Act, but the Government have consistently said that the remaining sections can be implemented only when the necessary resources have been identified and can be made available.
The Welsh Counties Committee (now known as the Assembly of Welsh Counties) and directors of social services in Wales were asked earlier this year to provide detailed estimates of the additional costs likely to arise as a result of implementation of sections 1, 2, 3, 8(2) and 8(3) of the Act, but we have still to receive several of those estimates.
When those estimates are to hand, they will be discussed with local authorities and further consideration will then be given to possible timetables for implementation.
§ Mr. WigleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what research he has undertaken on the implementation by local authorities in Wales of sections 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 and 10 of the Disabled Persons (Services, Consultation and Representation) Act 1986; and if he make a statement;
(2) what assessment he has made of how local authorities in Wales are fulfilling their duties under the Disabled Persons (Services, Consultation and Representation) Act 1986; and if he make a statement.
§ Mr. GristThe social services inspectorate of the Welsh Office, in its programme of surveys and inspections, is mindful of the requirements of the Act and reports to me on its findings. The required services and arrangements are not yet fully developed, but I am satisfied that authorities are making genuine endeavours to fulfil their duties under the Act.