HC Deb 19 September 2002 vol 390 cc392-4W
Mr. Boswell

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on progress in the implementation of the Learning Disabilities Strategy set out in the White Paper "Valuing People". [72985]

Jacqui Smith

We are continuing to make good progress in delivering the programme of action set out in the White PaperValuing People: A New strategy for Learning Disability for the 21 Century (March 2001).

I last reported progress to the House on 1 February (column 535). I was pleased to report then on good progress in setting up Learning Disability Partnership Boards, the Learning Disability Task Force, and the Valuing People Support Team, and on the early distribution of guidance. Progress since February includes: The Valuing People Support Team is fully operational and is continuing to develop effective links with Learning Disability Partnership Boards. It has started on a wide ranging programme of activities to support Boards in achieving their objectives, for example around person centred planning and employment strategies We have allocated £900,000 to fifty seven citizen advocacy and self advocacy projects across the country in the first year of a three year funding programme Work is under way on a joint Department of Health/Department for Work and Pensions study of the interface between day centres and supported employment (due for completion in April/May 2003) We have published guidance jointly with the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister on housing and support options for people with learning disabilities. This is in draft on the Department's learning disability website for consultation. The guidance will help Partnership Boards and local councils develop housing strategies for people with learning disabilities Guidance on Health Action Plans has been published and is being distributed to Learning Disability Partnership Boards The Learning Disability Task Force has held three further meetings at which it has discussed a range of issues and has had presentations from a number of Government departments. Task Force sub groups are taking forward more detailed work on individual topics All learning disability joint investment plans (JIPs) have been evaluated and Learning Disability Development Fund (LDDF) revenue was distributed by the end of March to all but six Partnership Boards whose JIPs were unsatisfactory; all but one of these have since been brought up to standard and money released. We have commissioned and started work on a national survey of people with learning disabilities A National Forum of People with Learning Disabilities continues to provide a voice for people using learning disability services. We are supporting the establishment of a network of Regional Forums which will feed in to the National Forum and ensure that it is properly representative

The Learning Disability Task Force will be reporting to me later in the year on its work in overseeing the Valuing People implementation programme. I will also be publishing a separate report on learning disability services later in the year.

Mr. Prosser

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what funding is made available to provide residential care and supported living for people with a learning disability: and if he will make a statement; [66302]

(2) what guidance is forwarded to social services departments regarding the collection of (a) the numbers of older carers and (b) information about the caring needs, family circumstances and housing needs of people with a learning disability; and if he will make a statement. [66303]

Jacqui Smith

I refer my hon. Friend to the response I gave my hon. Friend, the Member for Edmonton (Mr. Love) on 9 July 2002 at columns 889–90W.

Local councils decide the level of funding provided for residential care for people with a learning disability according to need, no specific amounts are made available for this purpose. Gross current expenditure on care for learning disabled people by councils with social services responsibilities in England in 1999–2000 and 2000–01, the latest two years for which this information is available, was

1999–2000 (£million) 2000–01 (£nillion)
Residential care 922.0 1015.3
Non-residential care 605.4 631.8
Total 1527.4 1647.1

Note:

Figures do not include the costs of assessment related work by social services departments, or the costs of commissioning provision from the private and independent sector and other local authorities.

We do not specifically require local authorities to collect numbers of older carers but our "Fair Access to Care Services" guidance issued on 28 May (copies available in the library) sets out that social services departments should monitor the extent to which different groups are referred, which groups receive an assessment and which groups go on to receive services.

Mr. Boswell

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what arrangements he is making to monitor the implementation of the White Paper on learning disabilities "Valuing People" by local learning disability partnership boards. [72986]

Jacqui Smith

We are committed to ensuring the effective delivery of the programme of action set out in the White PaperValuing People: A New Strategy for Learning Disability for the 21 Century (March 2001).

Implementation of the strategy is primarily the responsibility of local authorities as set out in the implementation guidance issued in August 2001.

Progress made in the implementation of Valuing People at council level is monitored by the social services inspectorate using the existing performance assessment framework for social services. Through the monitoring element of the framework, councils provide annual summaries of the improvement priorities, targets and strategies. Progress with these improvements is updated during the year and reviewed annually prior to the determination of the councils' overall performance (star) rating.

The Valuing People Support Team is continuing to develop links with local learning disability partnership boards and will also provide information on progress with implementation. A national survey of people with learning disabilities has been commissioned which will describe users' experiences of services and help to identify areas where improvement is needed.

The £2 million learning disability research programme will help to improve the evidence base. Projects being funded include ones designed to assess the effects of the Valuing People programme.

The learning disability task force's annual report, due later this year, will provide an overview of progress by all partners in the implementation programme and advise on any aspects of implementation where particular action might be required.