§ Mr. Paul MarsdenTo ask the Secretary of State for Health when the Social Services Inspectorate expects to inspect Shropshire County Council Social Services' provision for people with learning disabilities; and if he will make a statement. [160362]
§ Mr. HuttonThe Social Services Inspectorate (SSI) and audit commission joint review team reviewed Shropshire Social Services Directorate (SSD) earlier this year and their report is due for publication in June. The joint reviews are conducted by audit and the SSI and make a broad assessment about how SSDs deliver their services, and manage their resources. The joint review of Shropshire did consider the services with learning disabilities and the findings will become public on the publication of the report.
When the SSI inspects local council social services it examines their quality in more depth on significant issues than the Joint Review. Currently there are no plans in the SSI work programme to undertake a further examination of learning disabilities services in Shropshire.