A local government ombudsman has urged the government to clear up the confusion about who is responsible for providing communication aids for disabled young people.

The call came after a woman complained to ombudsman Patricia Thomas that Kingston upon Hull Council removed a communication aid from her 17-year-old disabled son without first ensuring he had access to a replacement. Without his "voice", the young man lost his place at a further education college.

Thomas ruled there was no clear duty on the council to provide equipment because there is currently no guidance on whether local authorities or health authorities should provide such aids or whether either should.

The council agreed to fund the loan of a communication aid to the young man and Thomas considered this a satisfactory settlement.