The Executive is taking active steps to ensure that advocacy services are independent and that users and carers are involved in all aspects of these services.The good practice guide on advocacy, Advocacy: A Guide to Good Practice, which was published in 1997 at the same time as the Mental Health Framework, makes it clear that all advocacy services commissioned by health service bodies and their planning partners, should be independent.Earlier this year when addressing Advocacy 2000's conference, I announced that we would shortly be issuing further guidance to service commissioners aimed at ensuring that independent advocacy services are available to mental health users as well as everyone else who needs such support.Both of these guides also encourage the full participation of service users and carers in every stage of the development...