§ Dr. TongeTo ask the Secretary of State for Health when he intends to publish a strategy for people with learning disabilities. [72520]
§ Mr. HuttonOur White Paper "Modernising Social Services" published in November 1998 set out our strategy for the development of social services for all client groups including people with learning disabilities. They will also benefit from wider developments such as the proposals in our National Health Service White Paper and Public Health Green Paper, and the Welfare to Work strategy. We have recently completed a review of learning disability hospital reprovisioning plans, are currently carrying out a survey in 24 local authorities and their matching health authorities and are awaiting the results of an evaluation of different types of residential provision for people with learning disabilities. We will then consider what, if any, further action needs to be taken in the light of this work and advice from the Learning Disability Advisory Group set up last November.