Disabled People’s Right to Control (Pilot Scheme) (England) Regulations 2010

My Lords, I can confirm that, in my view, the statutory instrument is compatible with the European Convention on Human Rights. I am very pleased to take part in today’s debate and commend these regulations on right to control. This is a groundbreaking advance, which for the first time gives disabled people a legal entitlement to choice and control over the public services they receive. When noble Lords debated the Welfare Reform Bill in this House last October, I noted just how important choice and control are to all our lives. There is an emerging thesis that happiness, quality of life and fulfilment depend on our ability to contribute on our own terms and be valued for that contribution. Like anyone else, disabled people need to be empowered to be in control of their own lives. They should have the same opportunity to be involved in a society that recognises them as individuals who contribute, rather than as people defined by disability. So I am proud that, with right to control, we have developed a policy that commands such broad support. I am happy to congratulate the noble Lord, Lord McKenzie, for the work that he and his colleagues have done to bring the policy to this stage. I also pay tribute to the many people who have been involved in laying the groundwork for these regulations. A great number of organisations and individuals have expended a huge amount of time and energy in shaping this legislation. However, it would be remiss of me not to reserve a particular mention for the noble Baroness, Lady Campbell of Surbiton, who has been such a potent advocate for right to control. Her work, and that of the advisory group she chairs, has been critical in shaping this policy and advising the Office for Disability Issues. Even then, we could not have come so far without the support and co-operation of the many disabled people and user groups who have been crucial in ensuring that we get this right. This sum of knowledge and expertise is reflected in the clear insights and attention to detail that we see in the regulations under debate. Right to control represents an important landmark but it is one stage in a longer journey. The coalition Government have a broad vision to decentralise, empower individuals and cut bureaucracy. Right to control fits well with our plans to allow local authorities, communities and individuals to manage their own destinies with less interference from the centre. By shifting the focus from what people need—or what somebody thinks they need—to what they want, we are working towards, first, services that meet the aspirations of disabled people, as well as their needs; secondly, services that are planned and designed around the disabled person; and, thirdly, a diversity of services that help disabled people choose the right package for them. In short, these are personalised and responsive services. The right to a personal budget and, ultimately, the right to take the cash and buy services directly is the mechanism for empowering disabled people. Too many people are currently offered services that are designed for the convenience of the provider, not the customer. Too many people still find that their own complex needs are not fully understood and catered for, despite the best efforts of the local social care department. Right to control will put the people who are the experts in their own care firmly in the driving seat when it comes to putting together a package of support. I fully recognise that some disabled people will still need support and advocacy to discover what is available and what they can aspire to. But I want to be clear that right to control is designed for all disabled adults and our trailblazers will deliver the guidance and support needed to ensure that everyone can exercise that right. Right to control represents a transformational moment for disabled people. It supports Article 19 of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities—the right for disabled people to live independently and be included in the community. As such, the trailblazers represent an important catalyst for change; they will act as a spur for culture change within public bodies, putting the emphasis on the disabled person and responding to their needs and aspirations. They will drive culture change among providers, ensuring that services are designed for the convenience of the customer, not the convenience of the provider, and inspiring change for disabled people and their families as they see what can be achieved and decide how to further their own progress. As a result, disabled people will finally own the choices about practical issues such as who helps with personal support, how they get supported into employment and who adapts their homes. The trailblazers are aimed at delivering a seamless customer experience. The programme should also help us to see what works and what does not, as we strive towards more streamlined and interconnected systems. We have a real opportunity here to strengthen the link between local authorities, Jobcentre Plus, service providers and third-party organisations, especially user-led organisations. If we can capture the lessons effectively, we will go a long way towards finding the best delivery channels matched with the best advice and advocacy. I hope that as we work towards a full evaluation in two years’ time, the trailblazers will help us find the best way to optimise a comprehensive right to control package. I therefore seek approval for these regulations and commend them to the Committee.