The Rt. Hon. Sir John Major KG CH

Prime Minister of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 1990-1997

1983-1987 Parliament

Mr Major’s Written Parliamentary Answer on Disabled People – 26 November 1986

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Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Disabled People on 26th November 1986.

Mr. Kirkwood Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what plans he has to issue regulations under section 1 of the Disabled Persons (Services, Consultation and Representation) Act 1986; if he will make a statement on the implementation of the Disabled Persons Act 1986; which groups and organisations he has consulted about the implementation of the Disabled Persons Act 1986 since it received the Royal Assent; if he will estimate the full cost to local authorities of implementing the Disabled Persons Act 1986; and what representations he has received concerning the Disabled Persons Act 1986 since it received the Royal Assent.

Mr. Wigley Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what are his intentions concerning tabling commencement orders for each of the sections of the Disabled Persons (Services, Consultation and Representation) Act 1986; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Major The Department has been in consultation with the Association of County Councils, the Association of Metropolitan Authorities, the Association of Directors of Social Services and the National Association of Health Authorities about the implementation of the Disabled Persons (Services, Consultation and Representation) Act 1986. These consultations, which are continuing, are intended amongst other things to estimate as accurately as possible the cost to local authorities of the various provisions of the Act in the form in which it received Royal Assent, and the rate at which these costs would be likely to build up.

The Government have consistently made it clear that it will only be possible to implement those provisions of the Act with significant resource implications (which include section 1) when the necessary resources can be made available. We want to press on with implementing other parts of the Act as quickly as possible, and I have told the local authority associations that I hope it will be possible to implement sections 4, 8, 9, 10 and 11 by April 1987. Since the Act received Royal Assent, we have received written representations from 10 organisations or individuals seeking its implementation.