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Disabled Persons (Independent Living) Bill [HL]

My Lords, it has been an excellent debate and some remarkably perceptive speeches have been made. I think that, having heard the speeches of noble Lords, the whole House will now be far better informed on issues of disability. I am very grateful to all those who took part in this marvellous debate, and there is obviously more to come. I thank also those who made personal comments about my work. I appreciate the comments of my noble friend the Minister, but one that I did not appreciate was when she used that dreadful phrase, ““We support the principles underlying the Bill””. When the noble Lord, Lord McColl, echoed the phrase, I knew that we were sunk. It is a phrase that I want never to hear again, because it is a method of escaping responsibility. We simply have to grasp the nettle of this subject. The Minister paid no regard to my comment about the massive savings—£30 billion plus £30 billion. The Bill would save £60 billion. Figures have been produced by the various independent agencies, so I hope that I can soon persuade my noble friend to think again. I must say that the Government are active on the issues of disability and have done a great deal. But the best thing they can do now is to satisfy all the speakers in today’s debate by supporting this comprehensive, all-embracing Bill. On Question, Bill read a second time, and committed to a Committee of the whole House.