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gross
spending by local authorities on adults with learning disabilities in
2007-08 amounted to £3.45 billion (£3.22 billion after charges made for
services are deducted)
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over
the last 5 years, spending on services for adults with learning
disabilities has increased in current prices by 7.2% and in real terms
by 4.5%
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it is predicted that an additional £1.5bn will be required over the next 10 years.
The Coalition recommends that central government
should, at a minimum, provide 80% of these resources to local
authorities. Identifying the need for an extra £200 million per annum
is a first step towards tackling underinvestment in support and care
for people with learning disabilities. We are calling on MPs to write
to Yvette Cooper MP, Chief Secretary to the Treasury, to ask her to
make good the £200 million annual shortfall in funding for services for
people with learning disabilities.
Ideally, the forthcoming Green Paper on the future of social care will address some of the evidential shortcomings. The Coalition will continue to ensure:
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that better information is available concerning the costs of unmet needs
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the cost-benefits of prevention and early intervention
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a better understanding of the numbers of people with high levels of need coming into services.
The Learning Disability Coalition would like organisations in the sector to sign up as supporters. Supporter organisations will be kept informed of the latest news about the campaign and what you can do to help. By becoming a supporter organisation of the Coalition you would also be helping the Coalition to present its case to the Government - the more organisations it can show are standing behind it, the more likely it is that the Government will listen to its case!