INDEPENDENT LIVING AND THE OUR LIVES, OUR CHOICES CAMPAIGN

That this House welcomes the Our Lives, Our Choices, coalition campaign for a social care system based on entitlements to independent living for disabled people, older people and their families; notes with concern rising eligibility thresholds for accessing social care which are causing increasing levels of hardship, ill-health and exclusion; further notes research by the Office for Disability Issues highlighting the waste and inefficiency in the care system and the long-term economic benefits of independent living-type support; believes the reforms contained in the Disabled Persons (Independent Living) Bill are a means of delivering real choice and control for people needing support, safeguarding the future well-being of children and families, promoting dignity for older people, and better supporting gender equality; and calls on the Government to take urgent action to stem the crisis and commit to bringing forward independent living legislation within this Parliament.