§ Mr. FrenchTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what action has been taken in the last 12 months by the social services inspectorate in pursuance of the recommendations contained in the report of Gloucestershire social services into the death of Beverley Lewis,
(2) what action has been taken by his Department in the last 12 months in pursuance of the recommendations contained in the report of Gloucester health authority into the death of Beverley Lewis.
§ Mr. DorrellIn the last 12 months the Department's social services inspectorate has carried out an inspection of services for multiply-disabled people in Gloucestershire. The report on this inspection, which will be published in due course, is intended to link up the lessons to be learned from the death of Beverley Lewis with the Government's proposals for improvements in community care services. The report should provide pointers for further practice and development within the local departments and voluntary agencies. Following consultation between the Department and the Law Commission on the coroners comments, the Commission is now examining the issues involved in the context of its wider investigation into the adequacy of legal and other procedures for decision-making on behalf of mentally incapacitated adults.