§ Mr. Alfred MorrisTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is his policy towards the recommendations of the "Disability Manifesto: An Agenda for the 1990s", a copy of which has been sent to him, which relates to his Department; and if he will make a statement.
§ Dr. Mawhinney[Holding answer 3 July 1991]: The Government remain committed to developing care in the community. The regional strategy for the health and personal social services in Northern Ireland and the recent policy paper "People First", which charts the way forward for community care in the 1990s, both identify improvements in attitudes and services which need to be made to enhance the quality of life for disabled people. They both stress the importance of assessing individual people's needs and targeting services to help them to live in their own homes for as long as possible and to participate fully in the life of the community.
Stemming from "People First", the Department of Health and Social Services has recently issued detailed guidance requiring health and social services boards, from 1 April 1991, to put in place new complaints procedures which will ensure the formal investigation of all complaints or representations about community care services made by individuals or by anyone on their behalf. 302W From April 1993, comprehensive assessment arrangements will be introduced covering the community care needs of all people who are vulnerable through aging or disability. The guidance on complaints procedures required boards not only to publish the new arrangements but to ensure that any relevant information is made available in an appropriate format to sensorily handicapped or homebound people. The guidance on assessment and care management will similarly be publicised and, in providing for the appointment of a representative of the disabled person, will enable any problems in communication faced by the disabled person to be addressed.
Government support was given to the introduction of the Disabled Persons (Northern Ireland) Act 1989 on the understanding that it would be brought into effect in stages as resources permitted. On 1 April 1991, sections 5 and 6 of the Act and parts of sections 4, 8 and 11 were brought into force. These provisions require health and social services boards to assess the needs of disabled people for certain social welfare services, and the ability of their carers to provide appropriate care. Boards are also required, in association with education and library boards, to ensure that young disabled people have a smooth transition from full-time education to adult life. Substantial resources have been made available to boards to enable them to implement these provisions.
With the introduction of these sections, Northern Ireland is now fully in line with Great Britain as far as the implementation of the Disabled Persons (Services, Consultation and Representation) Act 1986 is concerned. The intention is to maintain this position of parity.
Of the provisions of the 1989 Act still to be brought into effect, sections 1 and 2 provide for the appointment of an authorised representative either by the disabled person concerned or by the relevant health and social services board. Section 3 requires the relevant board to give a disabled person or his authorised representative the right to make representations about his need for services, to provide on request a written statement on the assessed need for services and to respond to representations about any such statement.
The implementation of these sections has been overtaken by the wider developments in the community care field. In particular, the far-reaching proposals in "People First" embody the spirit of sections 1, 2 and 3 of the Act. These, and the other broadly-based developments described above, reflect the Government's continuing drive towards substantial improvements in community care services in Northern Ireland and its commitment to provide the resources necessary to achieve this goal.
Recommendations on public transport
The Government have a strong policy commitment to improve transport facilities for disabled people in Northern Ireland. The Transport (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Order 1990 enables the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland to grant aid the provision of transport services and facilities for the disabled. The Government fund and are represented on the transport advisory committee set up by the Northern Ireland Council on Disability. The Government will also subsidise dial-a-ride operations in Northern Ireland, initially for north and west Belfast. Ulsterbus/Citybus and Northern Ireland Railways are working to improve the accessibility of public transport services to the disabled 303W through suitable facilities at bus and rail stations and the provision of appropriate features on buses and rolling stock.
Recommendation on Access
The Northern Ireland building regulations dealing with facilities for disabled people are currently being revised. The proposals will be issued for consultation later this year. They will be based on those currently being finalised in England and Wales which cover all new public buildings and some extensions, including many of the categories of buildings mentioned in the manifesto such as leisure and recreational facilities, health service centres, and also shops, libraries, and so on.
The training and employment agency in Northern Ireland provides an employment assessment, guidance, training and placement service for people with disabilities. The service has recently been reorganised with the introduction of a disablement advisory service. Disablement employment advisers, based throughout Northern Ireland, provide local facilities and develop links
Weekly hours of attendance Primary Secondary Length of school year England and Wales 261/2–30 (samples) 281/2–31 (samples) 38 weeks France 27 (minimum) 24 (minimum) 33 weeks Germany Up to 36 Up to 36 40 weeks Japan 25–29 30 35 weeks minimum