FULLY EQUIPPED REPORTS

Early day motion 1725, tabled 14 October 2003 by Roger Berry (Labour). Signed by 68 members.

That this House notes that following the publication of the Audit Commission's Report, Fully Equipped, in 2000 criticising the provision of second-rate disability equipment services for older and disabled people, the Prime Minister said, 'We cannot have a situation where older and disabled people are let down in the way this report suggests'; further notes that the follow up report by the Audit Commission in 2002 said that 'the services examined in the (2000) report have continued to struggle to attract the attention of senior policy makers and managers. Plans for the improvement of equipment services rest more on hope than expectation'; therefore, calls upon Her Majesty's Government to act upon the recommendations of both the Audit Commission Fully Equipped reports; and supports the call of the charities consortium emPOWER for a national focus on these services that are designed to support independence, through the creation of a national focus body for disability equipment provision.

Signatures by party: Labour 36, Liberal Democrat 16, Conservative 7, Labour/Co-operative 5, Independent Ulster Unionist 1, Plaid Cymru 1, Scottish National Party 1, UUP 1.