The Conservative party appears to have backed out of a cross-party agreement to publish reports on how many parliamentary candidates are disabled people. The proposal was a key recommendation of a cross-party “conference” headed by the speaker of the House of […]
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Report makes ‘compelling’ case for ‘diversion’ from prison
Two mental health charities have laid out a “compelling” case for treating offenders with mental health conditions in the community, rather than sending them to prison. The report, by Rethink and the Sainsbury Centre for Mental Health, says such policies would […]
Blood campaigners attack government’s ‘cheap initiative’
Campaigners have attacked the government for blocking new laws that would have improved support for disabled people who were infected with contaminated NHS blood in the 1970s and 1980s. The contaminated blood (support for infected and bereaved persons) bill had been […]
Government ‘must act on scooter safety’
The government should collect better information about the number of accidents involving mobility scooters according to a committee of MPs. A new report from the transport select committee says anecdotal evidence suggests there are growing numbers of scooter-users and accidents involving […]
User involvement on autism board is ‘woefully inadequate’
Campaigners have criticised plans to appoint just one person with autism to a high-level board set up to monitor progress on the government’s new national strategy on adults with autism. The Department of Health (DH) has already appointed 21 people to […]
Inquiry call over disabled woman’s death
Campaigners have called for an inquiry into the death of a disabled woman whose direct payments had been withdrawn by her local council. Two campaigning organisations held a vigil last weekend attended by more than 30 campaigners, friends and neighbours of […]
Government increases funds for DFG but faces ‘lifetime homes’ call
The government has announced a seven per cent increase in the annual payments it makes to local authorities in England to help fund adaptations to disabled people’s homes. The Communities and Local Government department said it would give £167.3 million to […]
EU funds ‘being used to build segregated institutions’
European Union funds are being used to build large new residential institutions for disabled people across eastern and central Europe, according to a new report. The European Coalition for Community Living (ECCL) said structural funds – money earmarked for development – […]
Work test plans ‘could blight lives of hundreds of thousands’
Government plans to start using its controversial work capability assessment (WCA) to test all those still receiving incapacity benefit (IB) could “blight” the lives of hundreds of thousands of disabled people, say critics. Work and pensions secretary Yvette Cooper confirmed that […]
National Care Service white paper: campaigners raise concerns
Two leading disabled campaigners have welcomed the government’s plans for a National Care Service, but have raised serious concerns about some of the proposals in the white paper. Baroness [Jane] Campbell said she was “quietly satisfied” with the basic structure laid […]