3 May 2006 - Review of Independent Living Funds announced
Anne McGuire, Minister for Disabled People, today announced a review of the Independent Living Funds (ILFs).
Minister for Disabled People, Anne McGuire, said:
“The ILFs enable thousands of severely disabled people to live independently and we need to consider the future direction of the funds in the light of our goal of equality for disabled people.
“A consultant will be engaged to conduct a strategic review of the Independent Living Funds, supplying independent expert advice and carrying out an informal public consultation, in order to make recommendations for the future direction of the Funds.
“The Independent Living Funds will allocate £263 million of public funds in 2006/07 so it is essential that we have an independent and informed review of their role.”
Regular reviews of Non Departmental Public Bodies are required by Cabinet Office guidance. This one will be carried out in the context of the Prime Minister's Strategy Unit report 'Improving the Life Chances of Disabled People', and the Department of Health’s White Paper ‘Our health, Our care, Our say’. The Government’s overarching aim is to provide more person-centred and coherent support for disabled people.
The review is expected to report to Ministers by December 2006.
Notes for editors
- There are two Independent Living Funds operating throughout the United Kingdom paying grants to people with high support needs who wish to live independently. The Independent Living (1993) Fund is open to new applicants and currently supports over 12,500 people. The Independent Living (Extension Fund) supports those people who received help from the original Independent Living Fund which closed in 1993. The Extension Fund supports over 5200 people.
- The Funds are discretionary Trusts created and funded by the Department for Work and Pensions and Department for Social Development (Northern Ireland) but operating at arms length from Government. They are financed by cash limited grants-in-aid and managed by a Board of Trustees appointed by the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions. The Trustees have discretion about whom they help within the framework of the Trust Deeds.
- The last ILF “Quinquennial Review” report was produced in 2001.
- The Independent Living Funds' address is PO Box 7525,Nottingham, NG2 4ZT, website: http://www.ilf.org.uk
- Public enquiries 020 7712 2171 Website http://www.dwp.gov.uk http://www.ilf.org.uk
- The review is to be conducted following Cabinet Office guidance that states that reviews should be carried out with sufficient frequency to give the department confidence that the NDPB is delivering high quality services, efficiently and effectively. This guidance is called “Light Touch” and can be found at http://www.civilservice.gov.uk/other/agencies/guidance_for_departments/index.asp
For media enquiries contact: Sharon Kean
DWP Press office: 020 7238 0755
Textphone: 020 7238 0788
Out of hours: 07659 108883
Public enquiries: 020 7712 2171
Website: www.dwp.gov.uk
www.ilf.org.uk