The government has pledged to improve access to financial services for people with learning difficulties.

Its annual report on learning difficulties said that people had problems opening bank accounts and more could be done to help them.

"One of the things that people have told us about direct payments is that people [with learning difficulties] are having problems with accounts," the report says. "The government will discuss with the British Bankers Association what can be done to make opening bank accounts easier."

The government has also promised to investigate ways to ensure people with learning difficulties are aware that, under the new GP contract, people can ask for a health check if they haven't seen a doctor in the past three years.

It also confirmed that the Valuing People target of closing long-stay hospitals by April 2004 would not be met and the final establishment would close in April 2006.

"There is a two-year delay, but it is better that people's lives don't suffer because there is a rush to close the hospitals," the report says.

The Department of Health will begin work with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on research to improve access to services for people with learning difficulties living in rural areas.

It will also provide the staff at the Immigration and Nationality Department with more information about how to work with people with learning difficulties.

- Report is available from www.dh.gov.uk/Home/fs/en