A committee of MPs has launched an inquiry into the future of social care services, following the publication of the government’s care and support green paper. The health select committee will examine possible options for funding services for disabled and older […]
Report raises concerns over use of community treatment orders
More than 14 times as many community treatment orders (CTOs) have been issued to people with mental health problems than the Department of Health predicted, according to the care and health inspectorate. The concerns were raised in the final biennial report […]
Equality body’s two disabled commissioners quit its board
The equality watchdog’s two disabled commissioners have both resigned following the reappointment of its chair, Trevor Phillips. Sir Bert Massie, the former chairman of the Disability Rights Commission, resigned in protest at Phillips’s leadership of the Equality and Human Rights Commission. […]
Don’t treat us like children on abuse, say disabled people
Disabled and older people have called on authorities to listen to the voices of victims of abuse and not treat them like children. The comments came during a consultation on the government’s review of its No Secrets guidance on protecting “vulnerable” […]
Watchdog lays out strategy, despite cost-cutting fears
The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has pledged to increase public awareness of its work and the number of businesses seeking its advice, despite facing possible cost-cutting measures. The watchdog, which launched in 2007, also promised three major national awareness-raising […]
MPs say more disabled candidates must fight general election
An influential committee of MPs has called for political parties to select a “significantly” higher proportion of disabled people to fight winnable seats at the next general election. The historic Speaker’s Conference – the first for more than 30 years – […]
Campaign for justice for McKinnon gathers pace
A campaign to prevent the extradition of a disabled man to the US has gathered pace, with a new high court hearing and a parliamentary debate. Gary McKinnon, who has Asperger’s syndrome, faces extradition to be tried for allegedly hacking into […]
Million more disabled people sucked into fuel poverty
More than a million disabled people have fallen into fuel poverty in four years, figures from the government’s own Fuel Poverty Advisory Group (FPAG) suggest. The FPAG’s seventh annual report estimates that more than four million households were in fuel poverty […]
Green paper welcomed, but concerns remain
Disabled campaigners have welcomed the publication of the government’s care and support green paper as a “new vision” that could promote equality, but have expressed disappointment at its lack of “concrete plans”. Two leading disabled people’s organisations, the National Centre for […]
Green paper promises ‘fairer, simple and affordable’ care system
The government has announced plans for a “National Care Service” that would provide a “fairer, simple and affordable” system of care and support for disabled adults and older people in England. The green paper, Shaping the Future of Care Together, lays […]