I welcome the publication of the Government’s “Transforming Support: The Health and Disability” White Paper. This is an important step in the Government’s work to ensure that disabled people and people with health conditions can lead and enjoy independent lives, while reaching their full potential. It is an ambitious package that sets out plans to transform elements of the benefits, while helping people with health conditions to start and stay in employment. I am grateful that the Minister came before MPs to provide further detail of the paper and to hear our concerns.
I was glad to read the paper and to see its focus on people with learning disabilities. In Harrow, there is the excellent Community ConneX, formerly Harrow Mencap, in which I have seen first-hand the vital support provided to adults with learning disabilities in growing their confidence in employment, leading to a more fulfilling experience. I was happy to praise the work of the charity for the support that it provides to a number of constituents and to praise my constituent, Jeremy Child, who runs the charity.
In order for the Government to be successful, such charities are vital to the white paper’s success, and I was glad to hear this praise repeated by the Minister. He assured me that he is aware of the importance of their work and concurred that working with these charities must be a key part of our future work.
