§ Miss WiddecombeTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many social services departments do not have an intervenor service for deafblind children. [166854]
§ Dr. Ladyman[holding answer 21 April 2004]: Guidance published by the Department in 2001 required local authorities to ensure the provision of specifically trained one-to-one support workers for deafblind people assessed as needing one. The 2001 guidance refers to intervenor services as one form of support. Sense, the charity for deafblind people, recently estimated that 19 per cent. of social services departments are providing intervenors for at least one person.