A Brief Exchange: Cameron and Miliband debate Bubb Report and learning disabilities at PMQs
The usual profile of learning disability issues in Parliament was raised slightly when Ed Miliband questioned David Cameron during Prime Minister’s Questions on 26th November – in the wake of the publication of the ‘Bubb Report’, an analysis of ‘progress’ post-Winterbourne, by Sir Stephen Bubb. The exchange ended with David Cameron declining to apportion blame and citing ‘systemic’ failure…
Edward Miliband (Leader of Her Majesty’s Official Opposition; Doncaster North, Labour)
Everyone was appalled by the abuse of people with learning disabilities at Winterbourne View. It is a basic obligation of a civilised society to treat everyone, especially the most vulnerable, with respect and dignity. A couple of years ago, the Government set the aim of moving people into the community and out of these assessment and treatment units. Today’s report shows that that has not happened. Can we today, across the House, reaffirm that aim?
David Cameron (The Prime Minister; Witney, Conservative)
We should absolutely reaffirm that aim. Anyone who, like me, watched the television programme on Winterbourne View would have been absolutely shocked at the way in which people with learning disabilities are treated. Everybody knows that that has been a problem for years and decades—not for a few months—and that we have to do more to get people out of hospitals and into loving and caring homes in the community. The reason why we commissioned this report from Sir Stephen Bubb, and it is an excellent report, is that the commitment to get all the people out of the hospitals had not been met. Sir Stephen has come up with good ideas for how we bring together the health service and local authorities to ensure that people with learning disabilities are treated with respect.
Edward Miliband (Leader of Her Majesty’s Official Opposition; Doncaster North, Labour)
I am grateful for that answer, but there are still more people with learning disabilities moving into institutional care than there are moving out of it, which is taking them away from their families and friends. Will the Prime Minister promise today that there will be a clear timetable so that the promises made to people with learning disabilities and their families are kept?
David Cameron (The Prime Minister; Witney, Conservative)
I do not want to set out a timetable that it is not possible to meet. We have just received the report from Stephen Bubb. He says clearly:
“it’s…unfair to blame the Government, I think it’s been a system failing, and I am very keen not to put blame anywhere, I am very keen that we move on.”
Indeed, we should move on and plan properly how we commission care and places in the community, using local authorities as well as the NHS, so that we respond to the report in good time, because otherwise we will make the same mistake again.
Edward Miliband (Leader of Her Majesty’s Official Opposition; Doncaster North, Labour)
I hope that the Prime Minister will take the report away and consider setting out a timetable, because a promise was made, and this is about the future and doing right by people with learning disabilities and their families.