§ Mr. McMasterTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his latest assessment of the impact of local government reorganisation on the provision of services for disabled people; what guidelines he(a) has Issued and (b) intends to issue to unitary authorities on the provision of services for and to disabled people; what arrangements he intends to put in place to ensure the continuation of services which are currently provided across the new local government authority boundaries; and if he will make a statement. [9236]
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonThe new local government arrangements will allow authorities the flexibility to establish procedures and structures to secure the efficient and effective delivery of social work services for people with disabilities in response to local needs and circumstances.
The Government have been determined to ensure a smooth transition to the new arrangements. As part of the community care planning process for 1995–98, local authorities were asked to identify both current and planned services within the new local authorities' boundaries. This will ensure that the new authorities have an informed insight on current strategic thinking and the pattern of services in their areas. The recently produced booklet "Managing Social Work Services in the Future", was distributed widely to both old and new authorities to ensure that elected members were fully aware of their authorities' responsibilities for the provision of social work services. The new authorities are also being provided with a complete package of up-dated guidance and directions on the community care arrangements.
With regard to the provision of services across the new local authority boundaries, authorities will continue to be able to contract with independent sector providers in other areas. Section 58 of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1994 clarified authorities's powers with regard to purchasing services from other authorities.
Authorities also already have available procedures to allow them to enter joint arrangements with other authorities or independent sector organisations in consortia to develop specialist services.
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§ Mr. McMasterTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what measures are in place to ensure that the inaccessibility of school transport is not a restricting factor in integrating disabled children into mainstream schools; and if he will make a statement. [9257]
§ Mr. Raymond S. RobertsonThe provision of school transport is a matter for education authorities who have certain statutory duties, in addition to wide powers, to make appropriate arrangements in respect of disabled children who are attending mainstream schools.
§ Mr. McMasterTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to ensure that disabled people are represented on the health boards and health councils which he is responsible for appointing; and if he will make a statement. [9361]
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonA number of disabled people already serve in a non-executive capacity on health boards and NHS trusts and their contribution brings a necessary and important perspective to the boards to which they are appointed. Invitations to serve as non-executives are sought from a wide range of community, voluntary and health groups together with press advertisements to ensure the broadest range of community membership is available for health boards and NHS trusts.
Responsibility for appointments to health councils rests with local health boards, who are encouraged to seek a broad representation of members appointed to serve on health councils.