Chamber and committees

The same as you? recommended that life plans for people with learningdisabilities who live with their parents should include plans for a time whenparents may no longer be able to provide care. Scottish Executive guidance onPartnership in Practice Agreements (PiPs), issued on 26 March 2001, stated thatPiPs should address all recommendations that apply to statutory authorities,and that they should specifically address ageing, and support for families andcarers. Guidance Circular CCD 3/2001 Implementing The same as you?: Partnershipin Practice Agreements (PiPs) and Change Funds is available in the Parliament’s reference Centre (Bib. number 12320).

the Scottish Executive is planning to spend over £7.3 billion this year onproviding health services for everyone in Scotland, including people with learning disabilities.

Wepublished Promoting Health,Supporting Inclusion in July 2002, about thecontribution that nurses and midwives can make to the care and support ofpeople with learning disabilities. It aims to ensure that all nurses and midwivesrecognise the particular needs of people with learning disabilities, and worktowards promoting and improving their health.

We have asked NHS Health Scotland toundertake a Needs Assessment of the health needs of children and adults withlearning disabilities in Scotland, to inform the development and commissioning ofservices for the future. This is expected in the autumn.

We announced on 26 September 2002that we havecommissioned research into the needs of people with learning disabilities whoare in prison or secure accommodation. This will find out what type of servicesthey receive, and identify any gaps in provision across health, education andwelfare services. It will also find out more about local good practice, so wecan improve the way needs are assessed and met for people with learningdisabilities in prisons or secure accommodation throughout Scotland.

Theresearch is being done by the Scottish Development Centre for Mental Health.Work should be completed at the end of October 2003.

The Chief Scientist Officewithin the Scottish Executive Health Department, is currently funding sevenresearch projects into the needs of people with learning disabilities at a costof £749,897. Details of these projects are available from the National ResearchRegister (NRR), a copy of which is in the Scottish Parliament InformationCentre (Bib. number 17404).

We plan to commissionresearch on employment for people with learning disabilities later in thecurrent financial year. The Chief Scientist Office will be willing to considerfurther quality research applications into the needs of people with learningdisabilities, which would be subject to the usual peer and committee review.

It has long been the Scottish Executive’s policy to move the emphasis of spending on learning disabilityservices away from hospital provision. The learning disability change funds we providedfrom 2001-02 are a lever for moving the balance towards services in the community.There has also been a significant shift in spending away from hospital provisiontowards supporting people with learning disabilities to live in the community.

The pre-school facility atDungavel has been registered by the Care Commission under the Regulation ofCare (Scotland) Act 2001. Working with the Home Office and HerMajesty's Inspectorate of Education, the Care Commission will regulate theservice, taking into account the National Care Standards for Early Educationand Childcare services published by Scottish ministers.

Community Care policygenerally is that, where possible, people should be supported to live in theirown homes. Practical support for individuals to remain at home is providedthrough care services, notably health and community care.