Independent Living Fund Recipients Debate
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John Robertson
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Independent Living Fund Recipients
John Robertson Excerpts(10 years, 6 months ago)
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Emily Thornberry (Islington South and Finsbury) (Lab)
Will my hon. Friend give way?
John Robertson (in the Chair)
Order. Opposition spokesmen are not allowed to take part in a half-hour debate, whether intervening or making speeches.
Nic Dakin
Thank you, Mr Robertson, but it is important to recognise the number of Members present wanting to take part. I very much welcome that.
The Minister is a good Minister, and I am sure that he is not naive enough to believe that passing responsibility to local authorities absolves him of the responsibility for the decision. I am afraid that he will not get away with devolving responsibility and blame for the consequences of the decision to others.
John Robertson (in the Chair)
Order. Contrary to what I said earlier—I have just reread my notes—Front Benchers may contribute with interventions, but not on subjects that are part of their own portfolio. Sorry about that.
I call Barbara Keeley.
Barbara Keeley
Thank you, Mr Robertson. I am glad that that is clear now.
My hon. Friend the Member for Scunthorpe (Nic Dakin) is making an excellent speech on behalf of people who are worried about those vital resources, which will not be ring-fenced. Does he agree that there is an issue, as he has pointed out, about devolving to local authorities? My local authority is cash-strapped; 1,000 people will lose their care packages this year. Will the change not simply put a burden on unpaid family carers? Is that not a double burden, because people with the most difficult physical problems might be hard to lift and move—except by trained carers—which risks injury or fracture to them, as well to the carer doing the lifting?