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Disability Alliance Conference - 19 November 2009
On 19 November 2009 Disability Alliance will be hosting the first electoral battle between key Labour and Opposition spokespeople on issues which will be at the forefront of the next election: public services and benefits delivered to millions of people.
Vanessa Stanislas, Disability Alliance Chief Executive says:
"We are very excited at this first chance to see how Labour, the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats plan to ensure millions of people using care services and receiving benefits are not pushed into poverty through the recession or further changes to the welfare state from 2010".
Key speakers at the conference include Jonathan Shaw MP, Minister for Disabled People at the Department of Work and Pensions and his counterparts: Mark Harper MP, Conservative Work and Pensions Spokesperson and Celia Thomas, Liberal Democrat Work & Pensions Spokesperson.
Vanessa Stanislas went on to say that:
"Support for disabled people has been made less flexible and less generous through some recent benefit changes and we would like to hear how each of the parties will improve support for disabled people to find work in difficult national times.
Our members are also very keen to hear how the Government and Opposition spokespeople will address their fears over social care reform and the potential end of some disability benefits - possibly to help pay for free care for people living at home as announced in the Queen's Speech."
Disability Alliance supports free care for all disabled people - but that free care for some disabled people must not come at a cost to other disabled people and at a time we know more than 50% of disabled people using social services and living in poverty are already paying towards their care.
Ends.
Notes to editors:
Disability Alliance is a national registered charity with the aim of breaking the link between poverty and disability.
Free care for people with critical' needs living at home was announced by the Prime Minister in 2009 and in a Queen's Speech Bill on 18 November 2009. DA supports free care for all disabled people but fears councils will be under pressure to maintain existing income generated through charges for care services.
Leonard Cheshire Disability 'Disability Review 2009' revealed that of disabled respondents using care services and living in poverty, 50% were paying towards their social services.
Contact - For further information please contact Neil Coyle, Disability Alliance Director of Policy on 020 7247 8759 or at NCoyle@disabilityalliance.org.
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