Independent Living Fund reprieve welcomed by disability sector

The Independent Living Fund may have been granted a reprieve from closure as the government published plans to axe the numbers of quangos.

The body is one of 40 still “under consideration” with options still being discussed, according to today’s reform plans unveiled by Cabinet Office minister Francis Maude.

Only last month, the fund looked set to close and have its £360m care budget for its 21,000 clients reallocated through councils.

The suggestion was opposed by disability campaigners on the grounds that it would increase the pressure on other budgets and undermine the ability of disabled people to take part in society as full and equal citizens.

Neil Coyle, policy director for Disability Alliance, said: “This is very good news because it means the government is still listening to the rationale for maintaining ILF. The previous indications were the ILF would be lost, which would be a significant blow.

“No directors [of adult social care] were suggesting it should go because councils recognised that to pass its expenditure to councils would have meant a net reduction in amounts available because more money would have been lost in council bureaucracy.”

The ILF stopped taking applications from new clients in June for the rest of 2010-11 due to budget pressures.

What do you think? Join the debate on CareSpace

Keep up to date with the latest developments in social care. Sign up to our daily and weekly emails

Related stories

Independent Living Fund to shut in government cuts

Independent Living Fund defends funding restriction

YJB to be scrapped in quango reforms