RACHEL REEVES MP
UNIT 10, ARMLEY PARK COURT,
STANNINGLEY ROAD
LEEDS
LS12 2AE
[T] 0113 263 0411
Dear Mr Bull,
Thank you for contacting me regarding the Government's plans to abolish the Independent Living Fund (ILF).
I appreciate the importance of supporting disabled people to live independently and in their local community and I know that many people value and rely on the funding they receive from the ILF. Indeed, 19,000 people currently receive an average of £300 per week through the ILF and many disabled people and their families will be extremely worried by the Government's decision to no longer accept new ILF applicants, and to close the Fund entirely in 2015. After this date, local authorities will be responsible for meeting the care and support needs of current ILF users.
As I am sure you are aware, the Government held a public consultation on how to fund and support independent living for disabled people beyond the closure of the ILF in 2015. This consultation closed on 12th October 2012 and a large number of respondents and their carers expressed strong opposition to the closure of the ILF. The response from local authorities also showed concern about the level of funding that will be made available beyond 2015 to support current ILF users. It is vital that the Government listen to and address the very serious concerns that have been expressed by disabled people, disability charities and local authorities about the closure of the ILF.
I appreciate the importance of supporting disabled people to live independently and in their local community and I know that many people value and rely on the funding they receive from the ILF. Indeed, 19,000 people currently receive an average of £300 per week through the ILF and many disabled people and their families will be extremely worried by the Government's decision to no longer accept new ILF applicants, and to close the Fund entirely in 2015. After this date, local authorities will be responsible for meeting the care and support needs of current ILF users.
As I am sure you are aware, the Government held a public consultation on how to fund and support independent living for disabled people beyond the closure of the ILF in 2015. This consultation closed on 12th October 2012 and a large number of respondents and their carers expressed strong opposition to the closure of the ILF. The response from local authorities also showed concern about the level of funding that will be made available beyond 2015 to support current ILF users. It is vital that the Government listen to and address the very serious concerns that have been expressed by disabled people, disability charities and local authorities about the closure of the ILF.
These changes of course come on top of a Government programme of funding reductions to Local Government which has disproportionately targeted poorer areas and more vulnerable groups.
These cuts are having a real impact on the delivery of local services that are essential to helping disabled people live independently. Indeed, four in ten disabled adults are now failing to have their basic social care needs met and nearly half of all disabled adults say that services are not supporting them to live independently in their local community.
I believe independent living is crucial to ensuring that disabled people have the same rights, choices and chances as any other citizen. As you may be aware, Labour tabled an amendment during the Committee Stage of the Care Bill which would have ensured this was the case, and would have included the concept of independent living in the duty on local authorities to promote an individual's well-being. I am disappointed that the Government voted against and defeated this amendment.
I believe independent living is crucial to ensuring that disabled people have the same rights, choices and chances as any other citizen. As you may be aware, Labour tabled an amendment during the Committee Stage of the Care Bill which would have ensured this was the case, and would have included the concept of independent living in the duty on local authorities to promote an individual's well-being. I am disappointed that the Government voted against and defeated this amendment.
Labour will continue to press the Government to explain how it will ensure that disabled people are supported to live independently in the community. In particular, we are calling on the Government to bring forward a detailed plan for how it will ensure that the money people received through the ILF will be used to promote independent living for disabled people, and not simply swallowed up by local authority budgets. We are also calling on Government to ensure the needs of existing claimants will be protected - and Ministers should explain how the successful elements of the ILF (such as a national, portable system) will be sustained.
I hope this answer is helpful in explaining Labour’s concerns about the announcement. Thank you once again for writing to me about this very important matter.
Yours sincerely,
Rachel Reeves
Member of Parliament for Leeds West
I'm sure the conservatives wish we would all just drop dead and stop costing the taxpayer anything, just so they can give their rich buddies even more tax breaks than they have already.
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