Stephen Ladyman, who is on the advisory board of the Learning Disability Coalition and a former Minister for Social Care, has called for better care services for people with learning disabilities.

Speaking at the launch of the Coalition’s report, Tell it like it is, which reveals the impact that cuts to social care services are having on the lives of people with a learning disability, Stephen said: "Many people with learning disabilities are struggling and we need to do better for them. A lot has already been done to give them more control over their lives but too often local councils are not giving them the services they need."

The report discloses the findings of a questionnaire sent out to people with a learning disability and reveals that 34% of people surveyed have had their day time activities cut, 37% of people whose college courses were cut were forced by lack of provision to stay at home and 77% of people who commented on their transport services had a negative experience of them. There are approximately 2072 people with a learning disability in South Thanet.

Local councils are already tightening their eligibility criteria for care. Three-quarters of councils are only able to support those with the most critical needs, leaving others squeezed out of the system. Reducing support services is a false economy as it can have a negative impact on people’s mental and physical health, resulting ultimately in them requiring higher levels of support.

In light of the findings of the report Stephen has called on the Government to ensure that the social care needs of people with a learning disability are addressed in the Green Paper on the funding of social care expected in 2009. Increasing demographic and social pressures have led to a demand for social care that is outstripping available resources.

Stephen commented:

"1.5 million people in the UK have a learning disability and 120,000 of them receive social care support. there are more than 2000 people with a learning disability in my constituency alone. With this number set to rise significantly over the next twenty years the forthcoming Green Paper must set out how the needs of people with a learning disability will be met. This was an issue I highlighted when I was the Minister for Social Care. I said then there were more and more people who would need help and we cannot ignore this problem. It has to be a key focus of the new green paper."

Karen Flood, Co-Chair of the Learning Disability Coalition, which campaigns for a fairer funding deal for people with a learning disability, commented:

"The Learning Disability Coalition wants a social care system fit for the 21st Century We are delighted by the support Stephen who is making a real difference to the campaign and the lives of some of his most vulnerable constituents."