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Adults with Learning Disabilities

Of course. Quite rightly, many third sector organisations—user-led organisations in particular—not only support and help in the development of policy, but campaign, either for an individual or for a group of people whom they represent, to improve services in their area. That is a core part of what charities should be about. Some Opposition Members thoroughly disagree with the idea that charities should campaign for issues in support of their beneficiaries. However, Government Members see that as a core part of what the third sector exists to do and has done for many years, and we want it to be strengthened. That does mean that sometimes such organisations bite the hand that feeds them, if I can put it that way. Good. That is right. Local authorities and central Government, when we fund third-sector organisations directly, should expect a partnership to include criticism as well as support and engagement. That applies not least to advocacy organisations. We are developing a funding programme for user-led organisations because we want to see them in every local authority area. There will be more announcements about that in due course, but if local authorities, no matter what their political colour, believe in personalisation and developing services and tailoring them to meet the needs of individuals, then enabling those organisations and the individuals who represent them to be funded to do that work and to promote the needs of the individual is a critical part of the commissioning process overall when services are being developed. I therefore urge the hon. Member for Macclesfield (Sir Nicholas Winterton) to go back to the local authorities to which he was referring. I am not sure of the political colour of the council in his constituency, but if it is of a similar colour, perhaps he, as a member of the same party, will be able to persuade it of the point, rather than relying just on the exhortations of a Labour Minister.