Independent Living Fund Recipients Debate
Full Debate: Read Full DebateDepartment: Department for Work and Pensions
Ian Lavery
Main Page: Ian Lavery (Labour - Wansbeck)Department Debates - View all Ian Lavery's debates with the Department for Work and Pensions
Independent Living Fund Recipients
Ian Lavery Excerpts(9 years, 11 months ago)
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Nic Dakin
Thank you, Mr Robertson, but it is important to recognise the number of Members present wanting to take part. I very much welcome that.
The Minister is a good Minister, and I am sure that he is not naive enough to believe that passing responsibility to local authorities absolves him of the responsibility for the decision. I am afraid that he will not get away with devolving responsibility and blame for the consequences of the decision to others.
Ian Lavery (Wansbeck) (Lab)
I congratulate my hon. Friend on bringing this important debate to Westminster Hall. Does he agree that the dignity, the independence and the human rights of disabled people who need that high level of support can only be met by the continuation of the ILF?
Nic Dakin
I agree with my hon. Friend, which is why I am asking the Minister for guarantees that people’s independence will not be compromised under any future arrangements.
Disabled People Against Cuts calculates the existing annual cost of support at around £288 million, and yet the Government have only identified £262 million to transfer to local authorities. That discrepancy is not a good start. The Government are giving no reassurance that that money will be ring-fenced to spend only on support for disabled people to live independently, rather than be absorbed into broader council budgets.