Closure of fund ‘cruel and callous

CLOSING a fund which helps 18,000 severely disabled people will force people into residential homes or leave them without sufficient care, Oldham MP Michael Meacher has warned.

The Oldham West and Royton MP said closing the Independent Living Fund (ILF) next June was misguided and he demanded that the Government rethink the controversial move.

The cash will be given to local councils but will not be ring fenced, meaning it could be spent on anything, with disabled people fearing they will miss out.

Mr Meacher, who is backing a Commons motion demanding the closure is halted, said: “Councils have already cut spending by £1.9 billion on adult services through efficiencies and service reduction between 2011 and 2013.

“The Department of Health has shown that demand for adult social services has outstripped funding as expenditure fell 9 per cent behind demand over the last four years.

“Closing the fund is a cruel and callous move and Government should respect its obligations under the UN Convention of the Rights of Disabled Persons by maintaining the ILF and reopening applications.”
To read the full version of this story see the Chronicle’s E-chron digital edition or buy the newspaper.