§ Mr. BerryTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the ability of local authorities to commission vocational rehabilitation programmes for individuals with acquired brain injury on the basis of optimum outcome. [30795]
§ Jacqui SmithI apologise to my hon. Friend for the delay in responding to this question. I refer my hon. Friend to the reply that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State gave my hon. Friend the Member for Blackpool, North and Fleetwood (Mrs. Humble) on 5 March 2002,Official Report, column 192W.
We have made no such assessment. Local authorities, as part of the wider welfare to work strategy, are currently taking the lead on the joint investment plans on welfare to work for disabled people initiative.
837WAt the local level, local authorities are working with a range of partner agencies and organisations including health and social services, employment services, Jobcentre Plus, local education authorities, Connexions and Learning and Skills Councils, user groups, and employers' representatives.