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Social Services: Finance

Volume 486: debated on Thursday 15 January 2009

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions which funding streams he plans to include in the individual budget pilots due to be tested in trailblazer public authorities from 2010; and if he will make a statement. (247734)

The Welfare Reform Bill introduced on 14 January 2009 sets out the framework for a new legislative right for disabled people. The Bill enables the Secretary of State to make regulations to give disabled people greater choice and control over support provided by the state. This will be referred to as the right to control.

The right to control will be tested in a small number of trailblazing public authorities in England from 2010.

We will consult on how Department of Work and Pensions funding, particularly Access to Work, the Independent Living Fund and elements of our specialist disability employment programmes, could be included in the trailblazers. The inclusion or alignment of further Government services, including the Disabled Facilities Grant and Adult Social Care, will be considered during this phase.

We will also consult locally and nationally ahead of the trailblazers to investigate which other sources of support could be included. The services and funding streams to be included in the pilots will be set out in secondary legislation.