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Adults with Learning Disabilities

I am sure that those points will be made with vigour at the meetings of the national board. The DWP is a member of that board, and it will have the opportunity to debate those issues and to raise them directly with others. I shall, of course, ensure that my hon. Friend's comments are fed into the system. The second key pillar of reform is that of better skills and awareness to help professionals at all levels. On one hand, that means better commissioning within PCTs and local authorities. I am very conscious that there is still patchiness in provision across the country, which reflects a lack of consistency in commissioning standards. As a result, we will publish new guidance to build up commissioning skills within local authorities, specifically on promoting better health and well-being for people with learning disabilities. From April, we will transfer NHS learning disabilities budgets, and the associated commissioning responsibility, for all social care for adults with learning disabilities to local authorities. That change will allow the NHS to focus on its primary health-care responsibility for people with learning disabilities, yet give local authorities a clear role in delivering high quality, community-based care services.