Mencap's response to the Comprehensive Spending Review

Wednesday 20 October 2010

Mark Goldring, Mencap's chief executive, said:

"Today's spending review confirms that the phoney war on cuts has just become real.  The severe 7.1% year on year 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 extra money transferred to the social care budget is a drop in the ocean compared to annual care costs and will have a limited impact on protecting the most vulnerable.  With an ageing population and growing numbers of people with disabilities, social care needs more money not less. We now call on local councils to do all they can to protect frontline services for the most vulnerable"

ENDS

For more information and to arrange an interview please contact the media team on 020 7696 5414. Out of hours please call 07770 656 659.

Notes to editor

• Today Mencap has launched a new web site at www.mencap.org.uk/talk learningdisability where the public can join in conversations and debate on cuts and learning disability through twitter, online discussion forums, facebook and other channels. They can also view Adam's and Jack's video about how cuts could effect people with a learning disability.

• 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 one of the largest providers 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 It used to be called mental handicap but this term is outdated and offensive.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.