DISABILITY EQUIPMENT

Early day motion 597, tabled 4 April 2000 by Anne Begg (Labour). Signed by 103 members.

That this House is concerned by the Audit Commission's report, Fully Equipped, showing long waits for disability equipment, which is often outdated, uncomfortable and unusable; notes the Commission's comment that the current system robs disabled people of their dignity and independence and is a recipe for inequality and inefficiency; regrets the inevitable impact of the inferior service on disabled people's quality of life and on welfare to work and social inclusion; and calls upon the Government to increase funding, set national standards to end variations in provision according to postcode and establish a timescale for tangible improvements to the service.

Signatures by party: Labour 62, Liberal Democrat 23, Labour/Co-operative 5, Conservative 3, Plaid Cymru 3, UUP 3, Independent Labour 1, Scottish National Party 1, UKUP 1, Unknown 1.