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Adults with Learning Disabilities

The right hon. Gentleman is absolutely right. There are many people in prison with learning difficulties who, frankly, should not be there and who cannot cope. I can do no more than refer to the recent report from the Prison Reform Trust, entitled, "No One Knows: Prisoners' Voices", which supports in much greater detail the findings of my Committee. The Committee might want to return to that issue in the future. Perhaps the Minister can reassure us that the police, judiciary, Courts Service, prisons and other criminal justice agencies are addressing the problem. Intermediaries can help to explain questions and proceedings in court to people with learning disabilities. However, funding has been devolved to primary care trusts, which could lead to a postcode lottery. Can the Minister comment on the role of intermediaries and ensure consistent provision for this service nationwide? Underpinning many of our concerns is a lack of awareness among public sector staff not just about how to respect the rights of adults with learning disabilities, but that those rights even exist in the first place. The Government told us that this issue was being addressed through the undergraduate and postgraduate curricula for professional, regulatory and educational bodies. We welcome this, but what is being done about existing staff? A constituent of mine, Anil Ramani, who is a resident in supported living accommodation, went on a day trip from his day centre in Edgware, known as "the Space", to Aldenham country park. The carers did not count people on the bus, even though there were three members of staff for just nine service users. They left him behind, without even noticing that he was missing until two hours later. He was not found until 11.30 am the following day. He had spent the whole night in the park on a bench. I am told by Barnet social services that lessons have been learned and procedures changed, but after union representations the staff concerned did not lose their jobs, which I find remarkable. The problem affects more than just the public sector, however. Last year, a small group of people with learning disabilities and their support workers went to a karaoke night at "The Bull and Butcher" pub in my borough. The manager was hostile, made it clear that he did not want them there and harassed them until they left in distress. An appalling case of discrimination in the private sector! The provision of information in appropriate formats for adults with learning disabilities is crucial. We were struck by the lack of easy-to-understand, illustrated information—council forms and leaflets are not much help or use to people who cannot read. People with learning disabilities should be involved in advising on how to produce better, accessible information. We expressed concern at the absence of a cross-Government strategy to provide accessible information, and we were not reassured by the Government response, which dwelt on resource constraints and the need for individual Departments to comply with the Disability Discrimination Act 2005. A far more proactive approach is needed to help public bodies meet the information needs of all the people they serve. The commitments in "Valuing People Now", such as to consider how to promote locally accessible information for people with learning disabilities, focusing on the NHS, are far too weak. I hope that the Minister will look again at this matter, therefore. Is there scope for the Equality and Human Rights Commission to help with information provision on the most important public services? It has already produced an easy-read version of a guide to the Human Rights Act 1998, and I understand that it intends to produce one on the disability equality duty. Access to independent advocacy may well be the only way that many people with learning disabilities can secure their human rights. That is particularly true of parents, those with complex and profound needs, and those involved in the criminal justice system. Self-advocacy groups are also extremely important. We called for a review of the availability of independent advocacy, but the Government did not respond to this recommendation. "Valuing People Now" talks about improving the impact of advocacy, but not about making advocacy more widely available. I hope that the Minister can reassure us, therefore, that advocacy will not be a Cinderella service, neglected by central Government and inconsistently funded by local authorities, but can be seen as part of mainstream support for people with learning disabilities.