HC Deb 21 March 2003 vol 401 cc963-4W
Mr. Boswell

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will meet MENCAP to discuss progress in implementation of the White Paper, "Valuing People", through Local Learning Disability Partnership Boards. [103474]

Jacqui Smith

I have met representatives of MENCAP on several occasions since the publication of the White Paper "Valuing People: A New Strategy for Learning Disability for the 21st Century" (Cm 5086) in March 2001 and have discussed a range of issues. I welcome MENCAP's very positive contribution to the implementation of the White Paper, for example through the current chief executive's membership of the Learning Disability Task Force and their management of the learning disability telephone Helpline. I look forward to meeting MENCAP's new chief executive when she has taken up her post and to working with her as we continue to implement "Valuing People". I should be happy to include the role of Learning Disability Partnership Boards in our discussions.