DEPARTMENT FOR WORK
AND PENSIONS News Release (DRC-153) issued by COI News Distribution
Service on 11 June 2009
A national
consultation that could dramatically change the way every disabled
person lives their life is being launched today by Secretary of
State for Work and Pensions Yvette Cooper.
Right to Control is a shake up of the way disabled people can use
the funding they receive from the state. The policy forms part of
the Government's radical welfare reforms and will for the
first time enshrine in legislation the principle that disabled
people are the experts in their own lives and have the right to
choice and control over their support.
Under the new scheme, disabled people will be able to choose who
delivers their services and how they receive them. They can have
as much or as little control as they wish and they could choose to
spend the money on a wide range of support to help them to live
their lives with greater independence and freedom.
For example, public bodies may currently only be able to offer a
limited choice of services, such as access to a daycentre and a
specific employment programme. In the future, a disabled person
could decide to employ someone directly to help them with work,
home and leisure activities. They could decide to keep things the
way they are, or have a mixture of both.
Disabled people and their organisations are being asked to help
shape this initiative - by taking part in the consultation they
can influence how the Right to Control works.
Yvette Cooper said:
"Disabled people know more about their own lives than anyone
else, and the Right to Control will give them the power to decide
what support they need and who should provide it.
"We've involved disabled people in developing this
policy and we hope to get as much feedback as possible from
individuals and from disabled people's organisations - and we
encourage them to hold their own consultation events."
The Right to Control is a major part of the Government's
goal to achieve equality for disabled people by 2025.
The scheme will be tested in a limited number of trailblazer
areas, before a decision is made on whether to implement the
policy nationally. Pilots in a small number of public authorities
will run in England from 2010 for an initial period of 2-3 years.
The national consultation launch event, hosted by RADAR, takes
place at the London Marriott Hotel Regents Park today.
Individuals and organisations can take part in the consultation
by visiting http://www.odi.gov.uk/right-to-control
or calling 020 7449 5093.
Notes to editors:
1. Chapter 3 of the White Paper "Raising expectations and
increasing support: reforming welfare for the future",
published in December 2008, outlined the Government's
intention to legislate for a Right to Control for disabled people,
and to test it in selected trailblazing areas.
2. It also contained the commitment to consult widely on the
details of this right to help construct the right system of
implementation around the broad framework primary and secondary
legislation puts together.
3. We have been consulting with our Advisory Group since its
inception in May 2008. They have helped shape the green and white
papers and have now turned their attentions to the implementation
of the Right to Control.
4. The launch event takes place at: London Marriott Hotel Regents
Park, 128 King Henry's Road, London, NW3 3ST
Media Enquiries: 0203 267 5123
Website: http://www.dwp.gov.uk