HC Deb 13 February 2004 vol 418 cc215-6W
Mr. Jim Cunningham

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs how his Department is ensuring that people with sensory, physical, communication and profound and multiple impairments are able to access appropriate independent advocacy provision. [155033]

Mr. Lammy

The legal professional bodies with advocacy provision are the Law Society; the General Council of the Bar; and the Institute of Legal Executives. Each of these bodies have made provisions under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 to ensure that people with sensory, physical, communication and profound multiple impairments have access to the appropriate independent advocacy provisions. In addition, the Government established the Partnership Initiative Budget, as part of the Community Legal Service, which funds innovative projects designed to improve services for vulnerable groups, including the disabled.