21 February 2007
Minister sets out national target to make disabled children local and national priority
An audience of over 300 disabled people, parents and professionals last night heard Economic Secretary Ed Balls MP set out the government's emerging vision for the future of services for disabled children. Speaking at a memorial lecture for Rachel Squire MP, Balls stated that he and DfES Ministers want to see a national target on disabled children, to be agreed across government as part of the Comprehensive Spending Review.
Francine Bates OBE, Chief Executive of Contact a Family, who also spoke at the lecture, stated ‘We are delighted that the Minister could make such a firm commitment to creating a new national target on services for disabled children. This would be the first-ever national target for disabled children, and in an era when targets are being reduced, this is highly significant and would be a major lever for change. Along with increased funding, this is exactly what we need from the government's review to ensure that we drive up the quality and quantity of services across the country.'
Balls stated last night that despite the record investment and reforms to children's services, too many families with disabled children ‘continue to tell us of a constant fight to access services and support...families are still too often finding it hard to make ends meet, access speech and language services and get proper breaks from caring'.
In the week where the Disabled Children (Family Support) Bill gets its Second Reading, Balls stated that he had heard 'story after story' about families' needs for short breaks. He confirmed that the current Treasury / DfES review of services for disabled children is examining proposals to improve the provision of short breaks, identifying the best means of ensuring effective provision. He stated that the review has recognised a ‘simple need for more services and support’.
Balls confirmed that the government’s review is 'part of a process of putting disabled children and their families firmly at the centre of government thinking - a key group to look towards in our drive for social justice in this country.'
Balls called for greater accountability to families. He stated 'disabled children and their families, like other families, should have a choice of services available locally to meet their needs. They should be able to hold local partners to account when they are being let down.'
The Minister outlined four elements of the emerging government vision: access, empowerment, timely and quality support and support through the lifecycle. To deliver this vision, he stated that 'disabled children have to be considered as a priority: a local priority for local agencies and services, and a national priority for central government.' He continued 'variations in how well local agencies are accomodating national standards and local priorities must no longer be used as an excuse for unacceptably poor levels of services and support which keep disabled children from fulfilling their potential.'
Balls ended by placing disabled children at the heart of the Every Child Matters agenda, stating that 'only through making every disabled child matter can we reach our ultimate goal of a fair and just society for all.' He concluded, 'disabled children provide the acid test of whether we as a government can build a society with equal chances and opportunity for all.'
The text of Ed Balls lecture is available on the Treasury website
More from EDCM
News story: Ed Balls - review will deliver for disabled children