§ Mr. HannamTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent representations his Department has received concerning full implementation of the Disabled Persons (Services, Consultation and Representation) Act 1986.
§ Mr. FreemanI refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Caernarfon (Mr. Wigley) on 20 March at columns563-65.
§ Mr. HannamTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations his Department has received concerning the need for a statutory duty for local authorities to consult disabled people and their carers on their community care plans.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyWe have received representations from several groups about the need for local authorities to consult on their community care plans. The White Paper "Caring for People" makes it clear that we expect local authorities to consult and take account of the views of service users and carers in drawing up these plans.
§ Mr. HannamTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what steps his Department is taking to examine the adequacy of the law relating to guardianship, mental incapacity, and abuse of mentally handicapped adults;
(2) whether his Department has any evidence concerning the abuse of mentally handicapped adults in the community and in institutions;
(3) whether his Department has carried out consultations concerning the need to amend existing legislation to enable guardianship to be used to protect people with a mental handicap;
(4) whether his Department has received any representations concerning the need to amend existing legislation to enable guardianship to be used to protect people with a mental handicap.
§ Mr. FreemanWe have received representations from hon. Members, SENSE and members of the public and the report on the extent of abuse from Dr. Leila Cooke.
138WWe will consider the need for future statutory provision in the light of the outcome of the review the Law Commission is currently undertaking of the law relating to mentally incapacitated adults and will consult widely on any proposals.
§ Mr. HannamTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to increase representation and advocacy opportunities for people with mental handicap; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. FreemanPlanning guidelines issued to health authorities in health circular (88)43, a copy of which is in the Library, state that every district should consult mentally handicapped people and their families, as well as the statutory and other agencies concerned, in preparing policy statements and action plans for meeting the health needs of mentally handicapped people. The Department has also grant-aided National Citizen Advocacy by £15,000 a year in 1987–88 and 1988–89 and by £20,000 in 1989–90 towards the cost of its national resource centre and advisory service for locally based advocacy projects.
§ Mr. HannamTo ask the Secretary of State for Health whether his Department has commissioned any independent research into the abuse of mentally handicapped adults in the community and in institutions.
§ Mr. FreemanThe Department is not currently carrying out any research into the abuse of mentally handicapped people.
§ Mr. HannamTo ask the Secretary of State for Health whether his Department has issued any guidance to professionals working with mentally handicapped people regarding training and effective procedures for dealing with suspected abuse.
§ Mr. FreemanNo specific guidance has been issued. We would expect the local statutory bodies as part of their general responsibility for the provision of mental handicap services to ensure that professionals are aware of the procedures for dealing with cases of suspected abuse in their area.