Current status: Answered by Shona Robison on 31 August 2007
To ask the Scottish Executive what support it provides to deafblind people and whether it has plans to increase this support.
The provision of directsupport to deafblind people is a matter for local agencies. The government does,however, provide funding and support to agencies who work with the deafblind community.Deafblind Scotland receives core funding under section 10 of the Social Work (Scotland) Act. Deafblind Scotland are also active contributors to the Sensory Impairment Action Plan SteeringGroup on behalf of the deafblind community. People who are deafblind are contributingto the delivery of sensory impairment training to local authorities with the developmentof National Occupational Standards for social care staff. The Scottish Governmentwill continue to work with representative organisations to pursue improved servicesand support for people who are deafblind.