I went to a meeting this week of Voice UK's all-party parliamentary group where I heard about the apparently growing problem of forced marriages among people with learning disabilities.

Haji Saghir Alam, a member of the government's disability equality advisory body Equality 2025, said some parent carers saw it as a long-term care option for when they themselves were unable to care for their children. He suggested this was being driven by the ageing population among south Asian communities in the UK, the breakdown of the extended family - and hence lack of availability of alternative sources of support - and a lack of appropriate social care. He also suggested marriage was a way of dealing with the stigma associated with disability.

I was wondering if this is something that people have encountered. He seemed to suggest that northern English towns may be where it is particulalry prevalent.

I havent come across this personally but it really doesnt surprise me. There is a severe lack of options for adults with intellectual/learning disabilities and a serious lack of adequate protection. While not of Asian origin myself I feel this is very sad that a culture which traditionally values family and responsibilty is now heading in the same direction as the rest of the UK. I can understand why some parents may see an arranged marriage (as opposed to forced) as an ideal way of securing a caring future for their child the situation could easily become abusive. Individuals with learning disabilities do not usually have the same opportunities as other members of society to meet and fall in love,subsequently marry and have children . Neither do they have much choice in how their lives are planned so I can foresee many problems,in particular for females.