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The Office for Disability Issues is to hold a review of Independent Living (Disability Now, Nov. 06). Andy Rickell has his doubts about it. “Providing the right to independent living could cost the taxpayer money, which politicians think will cost them votes.
“But much of the funding needed is available already. The Government spends billions of pounds on disability annually; however it spends this badly – sometimes resulting in dependency.
“If we had a system that put disabled people in the driving seat and allowed them to choose how government money is spent on support and services – whether through direct payments or individual budgets – that money would be better spent. We could get what we need, not what the Government guesses we need.”
Lord Ashley of Stoke’s Disabled Persons (Independent Living) Bill received its 2nd Reading in the Lords on 15 Dec. 06 and had a First Reading in the House of Commons on 24 Apr 07.
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