Mencap responds to the Local Government Finance Settlement

Monday 13 December 2010

David Congdon, Mencap's head of campaigns and policy said:

"We are very concerned about the reductions outlined in the Local Government Finance Settlement. The reduction in funding to local councils and removing ring-fencing to local government grants will inevitably mean significant pressure will be put on social care funding.  These savings cannot be made by efficiencies alone and they will impact on services and care for those with disabilities.

"The most important thing for local authorities to do now is protect vital frontline services and ensure that the most vulnerable in our society don't fall prey to the postcode lottery. Many people with a disability need social care services to survive - it is as central to their wellbeing as the services provided by teachers, doctors and nurses. We cannot stress enough how important it is to protect these services."

ENDS

For more information please contact Jenny Brannan on 020 7696 6017 or email jenny.brannan@mencap.org.uk

Notes to editors

• About Mencap

Mencap supports the 1.5 million people with a learning disability in the UK and their families and carers. Mencap fights to change laws and improve services and access to education, employment and leisure facilities, supporting thousands of people with a learning disability to live their lives the way they want.

We are also the largest service provider of services, information and advice for people with a learning disability across England, Northern Ireland and Wales. See http://www.mencap.org.uk/ for more information.

• About learning disability

A learning disability is caused by the way the brain develops before, during or shortly after birth. It is always lifelong and affects someone's intellectual and social development. It used to be called mental handicap but this term is outdated and offensive. Learning disability is NOT a mental illness. The term learning difficulty is often incorrectly used interchangeably with learning disability.