1 Questions to Candidates General Election 2019 Question Labour

Questions to Candidates General Election 2019 These questions were posed to all candidates. Responses received from the Labour and Liberal Democrat candidates only. Thank you to clients, Ruils Your Say, Richmond Mind, Richmond Mencap, Richmond Healthwatch, Richmond Aid and Richmond CVS for contributing questions. Question Labour – Lib Dem – Ranjeev Walia Munira Wilson Sandra Keen Sarah Olney 1. How will you ensure that mental health is properly Mental health is an issue where proper The Liberal Democrats agree it’s funded in the NHS, so that: investment in the NHS is key. Electing a fundamental we make mental  People have appropriate care within the borough of Labour Government would ensure that health services accessible to all. Richmond and are not have placed in specialist the NHS gets the funding it needs. We No one should be forced to travel support in other parts of the county? will increase expenditure across the unreasonable distances away from  People do not have to wait months to see a health sector by an average 4.3% a home to access mental health secondary care clinician year. And we will publish services. We will be raising  NHS Staff do not burnout and are retained in the an infrastructure plan to return NHS additional money to invest in the services rather than the high turnover at present England to the international average NHS and mental health by adding  Staffing levels are sufficient to address current lack level of capital investment and to ensure 1p on income tax specifically for of care plans and poor transition between hospital and community future decisions are transparent and health and social care. £11bn of  GPs are sufficiently trained, supported and have balanced fairly between every region. this additional revenue raised over the course of the next Parliament capacity to manage people with severe and We will allocate a greater proportion of will be ring-fenced towards mental enduring mental health problems in the community overall funding to close-to-home health  Sufficient staffing levels in Adult Mental Health services and build interdisciplinary, health funding. Much of this will be social care to ensure proper support in the patient-focused services across primary invested in providing proper community to keep people well. care, mental health and social care. To funding to invest in our services, support our transition to community which will reduce the need for health care services, we will expand GP people to travel if they have more training places to provide resources for and better services closer to home. 27 million more appointments each year We also want to minimise the use of hospital admissions through

Question Labour – Lib Dem – Ranjeev Walia Munira Wilson Sandra Keen Sarah Olney and ensure community pharmacy is high-quality community and supported. housing support for people who A Labour government will provide an don’t need an admission. additional £1.6 billion a year to ensure new standards for mental health are We are committed to implementing enshrined in the NHS constitution the recommendations of both the ensuring access to treatments is on a par Wessely review of the Mental with that for physical health Health Act and Sir Stephen Bubb’s conditions. Our £845 million plan for Time for Change report. We will Healthy Young Minds will more than ensure those admitted to hospital double the annual spending on children for mental ill-health are able to be and adolescent mental health services. treated close to home for all but

the most specialist mental health If we can get this extra investment, we services, minimising the use of will be on the road to a society where people get the support they need. hospital admissions through high- quality community and housing support for people who don’t need an admission. Locally, I look forward to discussing how the council and local NHS are tackling this, including the provision of housing and care settings to allow those residents who may have been placed away from their family in the past, to have the opportunity of returning to the borough with

Question Labour – Lib Dem – Ranjeev Walia Munira Wilson Sandra Keen Sarah Olney appropriate support. I also look forward to learning more from the Mental Health Trust of their transformation of in-patient services at the Tolworth and Springfield sites, as well as their commitment to community mental health outpatient treatment and support services within the borough. The NHS is currently facing a staffing crisis, with 1 in 11 posts vacant in hospital and community services. In England, 9.9% of full- time consultant posts in psychiatry are vacant and there are acute shortages in staffing areas such as child and adolescent mental health services (12.1% posts unfilled). 50% more NHS staff are experiencing debilitating levels of work stress compared to the general working population. 40% report being unwell as a result of work stress during the previous year. Social care faces similar

Question Labour – Lib Dem – Ranjeev Walia Munira Wilson Sandra Keen Sarah Olney problems – there are 120,000 vacancies, and in 2016-17, the annual turnover of all care staff was 27.9%. The Liberal Democrats are proposing to create a national workforce strategy that addresses staff retention, training and burnout in the long view. We will take a ‘what works’ approach to improving retention including continuing professional development, better support and more flexible working and careers. We would improve access to flexible working for NHS and social care staff – scrapping the requirement of 26 weeks of continuous service to qualify for the right to flexible working – instead embedding it from the outset. We would adopt the lead employer model for junior doctors, to grant them access to shared parental leave and minimise costly repeats of mandatory training.

Question Labour – Lib Dem – Ranjeev Walia Munira Wilson Sandra Keen Sarah Olney We want to recognise the equally important contribution of social care staff through a new professional body for care workers and improved training and career development. We will also target extra help for nursing students, starting with bursaries for specialities where shortages are the most acute, linked to clinical placements in areas that are particularly understaffed. The high turnover will get worse unless we stop Brexit, given that a significant number of staff employed in the NHS (63,000) and social care (104,000) are from the EU. The UK has already lost more than 5,000 nurses in the last 2 years We would ensure all GPs receive core mental health training. We also want GPs to be supported to do their work and reduce the chance of burnout: we would improve the mental wellbeing among GPs through mental health

Question Labour – Lib Dem – Ranjeev Walia Munira Wilson Sandra Keen Sarah Olney first aid training in all health settings (and care), and a dedicated mental health support service giving confidential advice 24 hours a day. We want to end the GP shortfall by 2025, by both training more GPs and making greater appropriate use of nurses, physiotherapists and pharmacists where clinically suitable. We want health professionals to have time to talk and to offer holistic care that is linked in with social prescribing within local communities. 2. How will you address the benefits system where Labour will scrap universal credit. We will The Liberal Democrats believe the Clients feel very fearful of losing their benefits or immediately stop moving people onto it current Work Capability their benefits being reduced? They can also have and design an alternative system that Assessments are failing people, stressful face to face assessment interviews, with treats people with dignity and respect. particularly those with disabilities. no expert opinion on the individual’s true state of The process of testing can be We will start developing this system health. humiliating and stressful, and the immediately. But we have learned the assessment is inadequate for lessons from Tory failure: major policy people with hidden disabilities, change cannot be delivered overnight, particularly learning disabilities and especially when people’s lives depend mental health conditions. We on it. So we will also implement an would scrap the current system, emergency package of reforms to bringing the assessments in house mitigate some of the worst features of

Question Labour – Lib Dem – Ranjeev Walia Munira Wilson Sandra Keen Sarah Olney UC while we develop our replacement and replace them with a new system. system that is run by local authorities and based on real world We will end the five-week wait by tests. The new system would be introducing an interim payment based on conducted fairly and in a sensitive half an estimated monthly entitlement. manner, ensuring that assessors We will: are trained to work with people who have hidden disabilities and Increase Employment and Support mental health conditions. The Allowance by £30 per week for those in Liberal Democrats would also the work-related activity group (reversing scrap the sanctions system. changes implemented in 2017) Evidence suggests that sanctions Raise the basic rate of support for are not effective in encouraging children with disabilities to the level of people into work and are instead Child Tax Credits. they are likely to penalise people, which can deter them from Ensure that severely disabled people claiming and potentially lead to without a formal carer receive extra destitution. To support more support to enable them to meet the extra people into work, we would costs they inevitably face. (reversing the introduce a new scheme based on removal of Severe Disability Premium for incentives for people looking for claimants on Universal Credit) jobs and would replace the current We will support those who look after ineffective sanctions system others, increasing the Carer’s Allowance to the level of the Jobseeker’s Allowance.

Question Labour – Lib Dem – Ranjeev Walia Munira Wilson Sandra Keen Sarah Olney Labour recognises that the way sanctions have been levied on people has not only been cruel, it has often been unnecessarily intrusive and at times humiliating for them.

The Conservatives have created a hostile environment for disabled people. Labour will end this hostile environment. We will create a social security system that seeks to end poverty and provide people with security and dignity. Social security is a right and Labour will rebuild our social security system so that it is there to support all of us when we need it. This will mean changing the culture of the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) which we will replace, on day one, with a Department for Social Security that is supportive and enabling instead of demonising people not in paid employment.

Labour will scrap the dehumanising work capability assessments (WCA) and personal independent payment (PIP) assessments which are not fit for purpose.

Question Labour – Lib Dem – Ranjeev Walia Munira Wilson Sandra Keen Sarah Olney

We need a framework that engages with medical evidence and takes into account the barriers in society facing disabled people. Labour will work with disabled peoples' organisations to develop a replacement to the current assessments based on a personalised holistic assessment framework that provides each individual with a tailored plan, building on the strengths and addressing barriers. Assessments needed to be more responsive, particularly for claimants with progressive and fluctuating conditions.

Labour will end the pointless stress of reassessments for people with long-term conditions that prevent them from working. 3. What will you be doing to help people with Through our national policy (we don't run The Liberal Democrats would fully Learning Disabilities in Richmond borough, some Richmond borough yet) Labour will introduce Sir Stephen Bubb’s Time of the most disadvantaged in society? remove the barriers facing disabled for Change report people to accessing independent public recommendations and ensure services, education, employment, Assessment and Treatment Units transport, justice and housing. are closed urgently. Too many

people with profound learning We are the only party with a manifesto developed by and for disabled people, disability or autism are being

Question Labour – Lib Dem – Ranjeev Walia Munira Wilson Sandra Keen Sarah Olney according to the principle of "nothing detained in unacceptable about you without you." Every policy institutions and it is disgraceful that decision and every pledge will be co- the Transforming Care closure produced by with and for disabled programme has not been people. implemented by the Conservatives. We also pledge in our manifesto to Labour supports the social model of enact all of the recommendations disability. This means that people are disabled by economic, social, cultural, of the Wessely review of the physical and attitudinal barriers which Mental Health Act – it must be removed. This principle is at the recommended a new duty on heart of our approach and it will be health and social care embedded across all parts of a Labour commissioners to collaborate to government. provide sufficient community based alternatives for those with learning Labour is determined to advocate for and difficulties than on long-term implement these positive policies that will detainment (apply the principle of help break down the barriers that hold ‘care not containment’). For disabled people back. children with learning disabilities in education, we would end the crisis in SEND funding by allocating additional cash to local authorities to halve the amount that schools pay towards the cost of a child’s Education Health and Care Plan. We know that Richmond council is

Question Labour – Lib Dem – Ranjeev Walia Munira Wilson Sandra Keen Sarah Olney having to manage a year on year deficit of £3-4m in SEND funding. Locally, young people with learning disabilities are accessing inclusive educational opportunities in our local schools, and each of our local schools is accountable to show the evidence that they are working hard to close the gap between the educational attainment between those with and without learning disabilities. Our specialist settings such as Strathmore and Clarendon are judged Good or Outstanding by Ofsted. Great efforts are made to ensure that the young people attending specialist settings are given every opportunity to be included in mainstream activities, with particular strengths in art, drama and sport. Once young people transfer into the FE sector, the borough is working with Richmond College to extend their skills-based training, following the successes achieved in sectors

Question Labour – Lib Dem – Ranjeev Walia Munira Wilson Sandra Keen Sarah Olney such as catering. We have many success stories of young people with profound learning disabilities gaining work experience and transferring into the environment of work, supported by the Independent Travel Training Programme. I also note that helping people with Learning Disabilities, including providing employment opportunities, is a major element of the LBRuT’s adult social care budget - Richmond spends a much higher proportion of its social care spending on those with Learning Disabilities than other London authorities, and that the health inequalities for those with Learning Disabilities are being addressed in the recently published Richmond Health & Care Plan. When I meet with the Director of Adult Social Services at the council and the Managing Director of NHS Richmond, I will impress upon

Question Labour – Lib Dem – Ranjeev Walia Munira Wilson Sandra Keen Sarah Olney them my support for maximising help for those with Learning Disabilities and seek reassurance that continued emphasis will be shown to these residents. Added to this young people with learning disabilities are accessing inclusive educational opportunities in our local schools, and each of our local schools is accountable to show the evidence that they are working hard to close the gap between the educational attainment between those with and without learning disabilities. Our specialist settings such as Strathmore and Clarendon are judged Good or Outstanding by Ofsted. Great efforts are made to ensure that the young people attending specialist settings are given every opportunity to be included in mainstream activities, with particular strengths in art, drama and sport. The Borough sports day includes Team 1000

Question Labour – Lib Dem – Ranjeev Walia Munira Wilson Sandra Keen Sarah Olney events to showcase the sporting achievements of our young people with learning disabilities, following the example set by the London Paralympics in 2012. Members of Royal Ballet School have worked with young people fro Strathmore School on the Grey Court campus, creating breathtaking results. Once young people transfer into the FE sector, the borough is working with Richmond College to extend their skillfased training, following the successes achieved in sectors such as catering. We have many success stories of young people with profound learning disabilities gaining work experience and transferring into the environment of work, supported by our Independent Travel Training Programme. 4. Will you invest more in carers and support staff to Social care has long been under-funded On raising the quality of staffing in raise the quality of staffing in social care and and many people rely on unpaid care. social care: support family carers to care for family members? The support that is made available too Why is there not more money put into respite care often does not respect the human rights  We would support the creation for carers? As without the respite they become of disabled people and this needs to of a New Professional Body for

Question Labour – Lib Dem – Ranjeev Walia Munira Wilson Sandra Keen Sarah Olney tired and unable to deal with many other things change. Care Workers, to promote clear including their own family and without their (the career pathways with ongoing carers) skeleton support the family can crumble. Labour will build a comprehensive training and development and National Care Service for England that improve pay structures provides community based, person  Introduce a new requirement for centred support, underpinned by the professional regulation of all principles of ethical care and care home managers who independent living. A Labour government would also be required to have will provide free personal care, initially in a relevant qualification. For making sure older people have their care staff, set a target that 70% personal care needs met, with the of care staff should have an ambition to extend his provision to all NVQ level 2 or equivalent working age adults (currently levels are around 50%). We will provide support We will also invest in other social care for ongoing training of care packages to support both old people and workers to improve retention working age adults living independently and raise the status of caring. in their own homes. Labour will develop additional care packages that will support On helping carers: autistic people and people with learning disabilities to move out from  The number of family carers is inappropriate inpatient hospital settings rising. Carers are unsung and provide support in their own homes. heroes. We need to do all we can to help them Cuts to local authorities and the services  The Liberal Democrats agree they provide have been deep and the that we must guarantee regular vulnerable have suffered. These cuts respite breaks for unpaid have ensured that carers are not paid carers. We would introduce a adequately and family carers are not statutory guarantee of regular

Question Labour – Lib Dem – Ranjeev Walia Munira Wilson Sandra Keen Sarah Olney given the respite they both deserve and respite breaks, and require they and their children need. This will councils to make regular change under a Labour government. contact with carers to offer support and signpost services  We would provide a package of carer benefits such as free leisure centre access, free bus travel for young carers and self- referral to socially prescribed activities and courses  We would also raise the amount people can earn before losing their Carer’s Allowance from £123 to £150 a week, and reduce the number of hours’ care per week required to qualify for it. 5. Disabled people, including those with hearing Quite simply, the accessibility issues you I agree that this is shameful – difficulties or visual impairment, do not ask for set out in your question are, indeed, nationally the Liberal Democrats favours, they ask to be treated the same as able shameful. have committed in their manifesto bodied people. A particular concern is the to increase accessibility to public accessibility of public transport. Improving the accessibility of public places and transport by making transport services is a key aim of more stations wheelchair - On the London Underground system, 50 out 0f 270 Labour's plans for transport reform. accessible – we are proposing a stations are fully accessible ie people in wheelchairs can use independently, and a further require ramp and staff We will end the discriminatory practice of £130bn infrastructure fund to assistance to board trains. Driver Only Operation on the railway, improve transport. All new guaranteeing a second member of fully infrastructure must account for

Question Labour – Lib Dem – Ranjeev Walia Munira Wilson Sandra Keen Sarah Olney - On Network Rail, only 61% of stations nationwide have trained staff on all trains to assist needs of disabilities. Our public step free access and a lowly 18% with disabled toilets. boarding so the older and disabled rail transport does not deliver the passengers can travel when they want same level of service for Do you agree this is shameful, what plans do you have to with dignity without booking ahead. passengers with mobility and address the problems and by when? sensory impairments – those who As well as expanding bus services, need assistance to get on and off Labour will ensure that all new buses will the train do not enjoy the luxury of be talking buses offering audio-visual announcements. Labour will also reform making a spontaneous journey, but taxi and private hire services to set instead must phone ahead at least national minimum accessibility standards 24 hours before they travel. so more disabled people can make use of those services. Liberal Democrats would ensure all Our ability to improve the situation on the major stations with step-free London Underground is strictly limited as access are staffed from first to last that is run by Transport for London but train (there isn’t always someone we know that Sadiq Khan, the Labour there to provide assistance on Mayor of London, has vowed to hand). All rail staff should be significantly improve the services offered trained to use ramps so wheelchair at stations for those with disabilities or for anyone who struggles with mobility. users are not left on the train waiting for staff members who can assist. New developments near stations should include planning conditions to upgrade accessibility for stations to ensure that new developments are open to all (e.g. ramps and lifts are included). New

Question Labour – Lib Dem – Ranjeev Walia Munira Wilson Sandra Keen Sarah Olney trains must be designed with visual and hearing impairments in mind, with automated announcements and doors to the trains being clearly visible. Text information through digital displays should be available in every carriage and should ideally be visible from every seat Locally, the Liberal Democrats have a record of campaigning for better station accessibility. An example of this was the successful campaign to improve accessibility at Whitton station, which now has lifts. Unfortunately, the application for Hampton Wick was recently turned down in the Network Rail/SWR/DfT bid but we will continue to press for Hampton Wick to be made accessible. Plans are in the pipeline for Teddington too and we have had limited progress with St Margarets, with the Twickenham bound platform becoming accessible soon,

Question Labour – Lib Dem – Ranjeev Walia Munira Wilson Sandra Keen Sarah Olney although this does not help with London-bound journeys! 6. How will you ensure that women borne in the in Regarding state pension for women born Liberal Democrats recognise that the 50’s and carers who have lost working years in the 1950s, Labour believes that the women affected by state pension and subsequently attempt to avoid poverty in country owes an “historic debt of honour” ages changes who were not retirement through developing their careers and adequately informed about the to the women affected by these pension earnings are not doubly disadvantaged by any changes are given some new approaches to generating additional funding chynages. The compensation scheme is compensation for loss of earnings. for social care, including age related levies. a one-off historical redress for a historical Liberal Democrat Government wrong, so the state will be expected to would ensure that women born in find the money, just as it would do if the the 1950s are properly Government lost a court case, rather compensated for the failure of the than a policy decision. Government to properly notify them of changes to the state pension

age, in line with the Labour will offer pay-outs of up to recommendations of the £31,000, with an average payment of parliamentary ombudsman. £15,000, to compensate women hit by the Tories’ state pension rise. Payments On the issue of age-related levies, will go to women born in the 1950s who we want to establish a cross-party had their state pension age hiked. The health and social care convention that builds on the existing body of scheme will be delivered within Labour's work from previous conventions, first full five year term of government. select committees and the 2018 citizens’ assembly to reach Regarding funding for social care, this agreement on the long-term will largely be paid for by a combination sustainable funding of a joined-up of greater income from corporation tax system of health and social care.

Question Labour – Lib Dem – Ranjeev Walia Munira Wilson Sandra Keen Sarah Olney from profitable companies and from We will invite patients’ groups, people the top five per cent of people professionals, the public and the earning more than £80,000 a year. devolved governments to be part of this work to find a solution to funding.

7. The NHS Long term plan stresses the importance We produced our strategy for civil society The voluntary sector is crucial to of the voluntary sector in helping to reduce in June. This said that community led reducing pressures on the NHS pressure on the NHS but does not set out how an activities and initiatives need ongoing and has huge benefits from a already stretched sector can be supported to do funding, so Labour will set up a ‘systems change’ perspective to so. How would you want to see support to the Communities Innovation Fund using effectively achieve holistic care, for local voluntary sector enhanced to meet additional funding from dormant assets and instance, when unemployment, demands? philanthropic giving. The fund will financial difficulties or poor housing prioritise communities that have seen the conditions affect a patient’s health. highest levels of disinvestment over Another significant example is recent years, and will revolutionise Social Prescribing, which has been community ownership and public a great tool for GPs to refer participation. We want to promote new patients into a non-clinical setting ideas that help communities and to help their wellbeing. vulnerable people participate in decisions

and services that affect them, and develop new community owned assets It’s important that new health and that build community wealth and social care services are co-designed and capital. local councils should be supported to commission more voluntary We will also free the voices of civil sector interventions. Indeed, I am society by repealing the Lobbying Act aware that Richmond Council has 2014 and overhauling the rules that

Question Labour – Lib Dem – Ranjeev Walia Munira Wilson Sandra Keen Sarah Olney govern corporate lobbying. We will recently recommissioned their introduce a lobbying register covering Community Independent Living both in-house lobbyists and think tanks Service (CILS) and that the local and extending to contacts made with all voluntary sector is taking a leading senior government employees, not just role delivering these services. I will ministers. be discussing the strengths-based approach of the local authority with the DASS and how those not eligible for statutory social services are signposted to services in the community and how both the Council and the local NHS are working with the voluntary and community sector. 8. What are you going to put in place to ensure Labour will tackle the discrimination No SEND child should be denied Headteachers and Local Authorities who break the against disabled children and young their entitlement to education and law, intentionally denying SEND children their people in accessing education, including reasonable adjustments legal entitlement to education (e.g. reasonable in free schools and academies. adjustments), are held accountable for their criminal activity? The question is how will you Labour will deliver a strategy for children There is a SEND funding crisis – ensure the laws we already have will be enforced. and young people with special The current squeeze on local This responsibility should not fall to the parents. educational needs and disabilities authority funding has had a major Furthermore how will SEND provision be (SEND) based on inclusivity, and embed impact on the support available to inspected and reported on ensuring the highest SEND more substantially into training for those with SEND. Local Authorities level of transparency possible? The current teachers and non-teaching staff at all have had to make reductions in the situation is entirely inadequate. levels of education, so that staff children specialist teachers and educational and young people and their parents are psychologists who provided expert

Question Labour – Lib Dem – Ranjeev Walia Munira Wilson Sandra Keen Sarah Olney properly supported. advice to schools teaching SEND pupils. Liberal Democrats believe Labour is committed to addressing the that there is an important role for SEND funding crisis. local authorities in ensuring high quality SEND services are Children and young people with SEND available when needed. Most are particularly at risk of exclusions and MATs are not big enough to informal off-rolling. Labour would remove perverse incentives for schools to let employ teams of educational pupils fall out of the system by making psychologists, yet such services schools accountable for the outcomes of are critical in supporting pupils who leave their roles. Labour will mainstream teachers to teach properly regulate all education providers, SEND pupils effectively. We would including those that offer alternative ensure the Local Authorities role in provision. this area was recognised, and that Local Authorities would be Labour will ensure that headteachers inspected on the quality of their and local authorities comply strictly with SEND support services. This would the law and will enforce the law against include partnerships between those that do not comply. mainstream and special or

alternative settings where expertise and training can be shared properly. The Liberal Democrats would put extra money into SEND to address the funding crisis – we would halve the amount schools have to

Question Labour – Lib Dem – Ranjeev Walia Munira Wilson Sandra Keen Sarah Olney contribute towards the cost of a child’s Education Health and Care Plan by increasing in local authorities’ funding in this area. Reasonable Adjustments relate particularly to access to school grounds, school classrooms, subjects such as DT, exam special arrangements, attendance at school outings etc. Scenarios are clearly set out for teachers and parents by the Department for Education and tested through case law. Sometimes headteachers are concerned for the safety of a child with a learning disability or concerned for the safety of the other children involved in an activity, and a possible withdrawal from an activity becomes a judgement call by the Head, which a parent may wish to contest. If there are cases where our headteachers or our local Authority may be considered by parents to be breaking the law by not allowing

Question Labour – Lib Dem – Ranjeev Walia Munira Wilson Sandra Keen Sarah Olney reasonable adjustments, this must be brought forward in order to be thoroughly considered and addressed. In the borough of Richmond, our AfC School Improvement team know all our schools very well, and not only keep a very close regard towards school practices, but are also available to advise Heads on particular issues. This is taking place all the time, and a range of training for all teachers and governors is provided by specialist trainers through AfC. SEND provision is inspected by school governors and by Ofsted, and Ofsted reports are published on school websites. 9. How will we keep those for whom it is the most Labour's aim is to ensure that if a There is a clear role for schools appropriate education in mainstream schools? mainstream school is the most suitable which specialise in teaching pupils The current trend to whisk off High Functioning form of education for a child with SEND with SEND, just as clearly many ASD children to special schools. This approach that the child should remain in that SEND pupils are thriving in teaches the mildly disabled that they don’t belong. mainstream school. It is best for all mainstream schools. Liberal And it teaches the NT children they need not be children and society as a whole to Democrats are concerned with the burdened by those who aren’t just like them. promote and fund inclusivity. trend that pupils with learning

Question Labour – Lib Dem – Ranjeev Walia Munira Wilson Sandra Keen Sarah Olney Different is not less. But we are showing our needs can be ‘off-rolled’ – when children that different is less. schools offload challenging pupils to other providers to boost their GCSE results (for league tables). We want to avoid this culture by replacing existing school performance tables with a reformed system that takes into account a wider range of information eg. mental health of students, schools values – this will help tackle the systemic problem of the exams culture, and will provide a broader vision of what a good school provides. Locally, for many decades it has been the desire and intention of LBRuT to keep all our children in mainstream settings as far as possible, with a very inclusive intention. As a result, Richmond historically has relatively fewer specialist settings than other boroughs. A trend in the last 10 years or so has been for parents to seek more specialist settings

Question Labour – Lib Dem – Ranjeev Walia Munira Wilson Sandra Keen Sarah Olney because of their concerns that their children are not getting the specialist support that they need, and the borough is developing more provision through specialist settings for young people with autism, speech, language and communication needs, moderate learning difficulties and associated complex needs, profound and multiple learning difficulties, severe learning disabilities and complex health needs. All specialist support or alternative placement is provided through a young person’s Education, Health and Care Plan, to which parents, children and teachers contribute. Young people with disabilities now sit on the borough’s Partnership Forum, and contribute regularly. There is also a panel of trained young people, including those with disabilities, who participate in all senior level appointments in the borough.

Question Labour – Lib Dem – Ranjeev Walia Munira Wilson Sandra Keen Sarah Olney 10. "The public backlash against plastic, supported by Plastic straws should be made available The Liberal Democrats believe Government policy and legislation, has lead to the for those who cannot drink without them. plastic pollution is harmful to the widespread withdrawal of positionable, plastic It should never be the case that environment and we should do all drinking straws, despite straws making up only someone working in a retail environment we can to reduce plastic waste - 0.025% of polution worldwide, less in the UK. who has no disability qualifications is the we want to ban the use of non- There is no evidence to support Government judge of a disability and can then deny a recyclable single use plastic within statistics citing straws as a significant problem. disabled person their rights. 3 years. On this specific issue of

(https://www.channel4.com/news/factcheck/factcheck- straw banning, it is urgent and no- evidence-for-governments-plastic-straw-claims) important we find a solution that both helps us reduce plastic waste Rigid alternatives made from paper, metal, wheat and and is accessible and effective for other materials are not suitable, practical substitutes. disabled people. Despite reassurance to the contrary plastic straws are Liberal Democrats champion the not available through alternative channels such as chemists. Bars and restaurants are not making them rights of those with disabilities and available on demand. Disabled people are finding we believe that the views of those themselves unable to drink and eat in sufficient with disabilities are taken into quantities to maintain their health, both out and about account at all decision-making and increasingly in their own homes. levels.

What steps will you take to address this emerging We want to use Citizens’ crisis, reverse the straw ban and educate the public Assemblies to consult with and about the effects of this harmful policy?" educate the public on how to tackle environmental issues – people with disabilities must be included on these.

Question Labour – Lib Dem – Ranjeev Walia Munira Wilson Sandra Keen Sarah Olney 11. Would you kindly guarantee that you would never In complete contrast to the The Liberal Democrats recognise vote for a cut in benefits to the disabled and/or the Conservative/Lib-Dem coalition and the that there is a crisis in our health vulnerable?” current Conservative government who and social welfare system that have brought so many cuts in benefits to needs urgent addressing. We plan the vulnerable and the disabled, the to do this by investing more Labour party promises to increase resources into our care system so benefits as follows: we can begin to tackle the issue.

a) ensure disabled children on universal We would invest £6bn per year credit (UC) receive the same amount as over the next Parliament to disabled children whose parents receive strengthen the welfare system, child tax credits - an increase of £154 per which has suffered from chronic month; underfunding. We will also reduce

the first payment under Universal b) will increase employment and support allowance by £30 a week for those in the Credit from five weeks to five days. work-related activity group; and There is no need to make people wait five weeks to receive their first c) increase carer's allowance to the level benefits payment, during which of Jobseeker's Allowance. time people are left to struggle financially and risk becoming Labour also intend to immediately scrap destitute. the UC sanctions regime and dehumanising work capability and PIP The Independent Living Fund was assessments which are unfit for purpose. closed in 2015, with responsibility passing to local authorities. Given that local authorities already have hugely over-stretched budgets, the availability of funding has

Question Labour – Lib Dem – Ranjeev Walia Munira Wilson Sandra Keen Sarah Olney decreased, meaning that people are receiving less support. We would reinstate the Independent Living Fund to help people who need it to live independently in their community. We would increase the role and funding of local authorities in administering the support to ensure that it is properly responsive to local needs. Cuts to the Employment Support Allowance for those in the Work- Related Activity Group have had devastating effects on people with disabilities. There is no evidence for the belief that reducing the ESA-WRAG incentivises disabled people to find work. The Liberal Democrats strongly oppose these cuts and would reverse them for all those affected. We would put an extra £1.28bn into the ESA and the Independent Living Fund by the end of the next Parliament. 12. Why there are no Day Centres available in the The fact that there are shamefully no day I know the borough has three Day Richmond Borough for my daughter to access centres available for your daughter in Centres and look forward to visiting

Question Labour – Lib Dem – Ranjeev Walia Munira Wilson Sandra Keen Sarah Olney when she leaves college in July 2020. She will be Richmond is down both to the austerity them at the beginning of the year; I 25 years old in June 2020 and has profound regime put in place by the understand that one of them (the learning difficulties. Conservative/Lib-Dem coalition that has Access Centre in Whitton) is denied our Council adequate funding and particularly geared towards to the actions of the Council itself. younger residents and is currently looking at how it can best meet the Labour will undertake a review in needs of current and future users; I partnership with disabled people's organisations of sports arts and leisure will be pleased to discuss how your venues to determine how access to daughter’s individual needs as a people with different conditions and person with profound learning impairments can best be improved disabilities might be met within borough when I meet the DASS and would encourage you to let me have further details so I can better represent her case. It is difficult to address this question directly, as we do not have the specific circumstances of the case. However, the important issue raised by the question is the transition of young people from educational life into independent living in adult life. 13. What are your/your party’s plans for investment for The Labour party's vision is one in which, The Liberal Democrats would local services and support for disabled people? thanks to thriving public services and the reform the welfare system so that it social security system that genuinely supports those who need it and looks out for people, everyone has helps people back into work. From

Question Labour – Lib Dem – Ranjeev Walia Munira Wilson Sandra Keen Sarah Olney access to the essentials of a good life. It the money generated by our 1p is one in which everyone is treated rise in income tax, we would invest equally and with respect, and in which £6bn per year over the next society doesn't make things harder for Parliament to strengthen the some than it is for others. welfare system, which has suffered from chronic underfunding. We will More disabled people are now living in also reduce the first payment poverty, and people have died because under Universal Credit from five of this government’s choice to make the weeks to five days. There is no most vulnerable pay for tax cuts for the need to make people wait five few. Labour will end this cruelty, weeks to receive their first benefits restoring the protections that disabled payment, during which time people people and their families – many of are left to struggle financially and whom shoulder the cost of their care – risk becoming destitute. should expect in one of the richest countries in the world. We would increase the role and funding of local authorities in We will bring about a radical administering the support to decentralisation of power in Britain so ensure that it is properly that local people and communities are responsive to local needs. Cuts to given far greater control over their own the Employment Support lives and prospects. Labour supports the Allowance for those in the Work- principle of ‘nothing about us without Related Activity Group have had us’. devastating effects on people with We will allocate a greater proportion of disabilities. There is absolutely no overall funding to close-to-home health evidence for the belief that services and build interdisciplinary, reducing the ESA-WRAG

Question Labour – Lib Dem – Ranjeev Walia Munira Wilson Sandra Keen Sarah Olney patient-focused services across primary incentivises disabled people to find care, mental health and social care. We work. The Liberal Democrats will also ensure those living with long- strongly oppose these cuts and term conditions can access the care they would reverse them for all those need. affected. We would put an extra £1.28bn into the ESA and the A Labour government will develop a Independent Living Fund by the planned model of joined-up community end of the next Parliament. care, enabling people to live longer lives in better health in their own homes. We We would also establish a cross- will ensure the voices of local people and party health and social care NHS staff are heard in future convention, bringing together developments of the health system stakeholders from all political parties, patients groups, the public Through our new Department for Women and professionals from within the and Equalities, we will ensure that health and social care system to disabled people can be independent and carry out a comprehensive review equal in society, with choice and control of the longer-term sustainability of over their own lives. the health and social care finances A Labour government will provide an and workforce, and the additional £1.6 billion a year to ensure practicalities of greater integration. new standards for mental health are As such we would consistently enshrined in the NHS constitution work to raise awareness of, and ensuring access to treatments is on a par seek to expand, Access to Work, with that for physical health conditions. which supports people with disabilities in work.

Question Labour – Lib Dem – Ranjeev Walia Munira Wilson Sandra Keen Sarah Olney

14. What are your/your party’s plans for a National Our manifesto does not promise to The Independent Living Fund was Independent Living Support Service? introduce a National Independent Living closed in 2015, with responsibility Support Service (NILSS). Instead, passing to local authorities. Given Labour is promising to provide free that local authorities already have personal care for people over 65 with the hugely over-stretched budgets, the ambition to extend the provision to all availability of funding has working-age adults. decreased, meaning that people are receiving less support. We We do promise that our investment in would reinstate the Independent social care would enable a Labour Living Fund to help people who government to more than double the need it to live independently in number of older and working-age people their community. receiving publicly funded care packages to improve the standard of this care and remove the distinction between health and care needs.

Labour is also promising to support autistic people and people with learning difficulties to move out from inappropriate inpatient hospital settings and receive support in their own homes. These measures, as well as pledges to improve the accessibility of public transport, represent significant steps towards better state support for independent living.

Question Labour – Lib Dem – Ranjeev Walia Munira Wilson Sandra Keen Sarah Olney Our reforms would respect the human rights of disabled people, and our National Care Service for England would provide community-based, person- centred support that was underpinned by the principles of ethical care and independent living.

15. What are your/your party’s plans to give disabled Please refer to our answer to Question 9 As stated in questions 8 & 9 above learners the legal right to attend and fully - above. we are committed to creating an participate in all mainstream education settings education system that can cater for within a fully inclusive education system that all, and is no longer focussed on meets the needs of all disabled learners? churning out league table ready responses. We must direct our educators to be pro-active in learning how they themselves can be better at working with parents and students in approaching education in a more holistic and positive manner to ensure that all children are treated equally and fairly inside the system. As noted above, other questions in this document address part of the SEND children and students needs. We have brought these together below to give an overall

Question Labour – Lib Dem – Ranjeev Walia Munira Wilson Sandra Keen Sarah Olney picture of our plans that will help SEND children and students. I know that both our primary and secondary schools strive to be as inclusive as possible to accommodate disabled learners who wish to stay in mainstream education settings. I will look forward to discussing how this inclusivity is being addressed in post-16 and further education settings when I meet with the Principals of Richmond upon Thames College and RACC Liberal Democrats believe that no SEND child should be denied their entitlement to education and reasonable adjustments. There is a SEND funding crisis – The current squeeze on local authority funding has had a major impact on the support available to those with SEND. Local Authorities have had to make reductions in the specialist teachers and educational

Question Labour – Lib Dem – Ranjeev Walia Munira Wilson Sandra Keen Sarah Olney psychologists who provided expert advice to schools teaching SEND pupils. Liberal Democrats believe that there is an important role for local authorities in ensuring high quality SEND services are available when needed. Most MATs are not big enough to employ teams of educational psychologists, yet such services are critical in supporting mainstream teachers to teach SEND pupils effectively. We would ensure the LA’s role in this area was recognised, and LAs would be inspected on the quality of their SEND support services. This would include partnerships between mainstream and special or alternative settings where expertise and training can be shared properly. The Liberal Democrats would put extra money into SEND to address the funding crisis – we would halve the amount schools have to

Question Labour – Lib Dem – Ranjeev Walia Munira Wilson Sandra Keen Sarah Olney contribute towards the cost of a child’s Education Health and Care Plan by increasing in local authorities’ funding in this area. Reasonable Adjustments relate particularly to access to school grounds, school classrooms, subjects such as DT, exam special arrangements, attendance at school outings etc. Scenarios are clearly set out for teachers and parents by the DfE and tested through case law. Sometimes headteachers are concerned for the safety of a child with a learning disability or concerned for the safety of the other children involved in an activity, and a possible withdrawal from an activity becomes a judgement call by the Head, which a parent may wish to contest. If there are cases where our headteachers or our local Authority may be considered by parents to be breaking the law by not allowing reasonable

Question Labour – Lib Dem – Ranjeev Walia Munira Wilson Sandra Keen Sarah Olney adjustments, this must be brought forward in order to be thoroughly considered and addressed. In the borough of Richmond, our AfC School Improvement team know all our schools very well, and not only keep a very close regard towards school practices, but are also available to advise Heads on particular issues. This is taking place all the time, and a range of training for all teachers and governors is provided by specialist trainers through AfC. SEND provision is inspected by school governors and by Ofsted, and Ofsted reports are published on school websites.” There is a clear role for schools which specialise in teaching pupils with SEND, just as clearly many SEND pupils are thriving in mainstream schools. Liberal Democrats are concerned with the trend that pupils with learning needs can be ‘off-rolled’ – when

Question Labour – Lib Dem – Ranjeev Walia Munira Wilson Sandra Keen Sarah Olney schools offload challenging pupils to other providers to boost their GCSE results (for league tables). We want to avoid this culture by replacing existing school performance tables with a reformed system that takes into account a wider range of information eg. mental health of students, schools values – this will help tackle the systemic problem of the exams culture, and will provide a broader vision of what a good school provides. Locally, for many decades it has been the desire and intention of LBRuT to keep all our children in mainstream settings as far as possible, with a very inclusive intention. As a result, Richmond historically has relatively fewer specialist settings than other boroughs. A trend in the last 10 years or so has been for parents to seek more specialist settings because of their concerns that their

Question Labour – Lib Dem – Ranjeev Walia Munira Wilson Sandra Keen Sarah Olney children are not getting the specialist support that they need, and the borough is developing more provision through specialist settings for young people with autism, speech, language and communication needs, moderate learning difficulties and associated complex needs, profound and multiple learning difficulties, severe learning disabilities and complex health needs. All specialist support or alternative placement is provided through a young person’s Education, Health and Care Plan, to which parents, children and teachers contribute. Young people with disabilities now sit on the borough’s Partnership Forum, and contribute regularly. There is also a panel of trained young people, including those with disabilities, who participate in all senior level appointments in the borough. 16. What are your/your party’s plans to give Disability Reported disability hate crime against Our manifesto has a commitment hate crime parity in law with other hate crimes? disabled people has increased by 37% in to tackling the rise in hate crimes the last year alone and, as most people by making them all aggravated

Question Labour – Lib Dem – Ranjeev Walia Munira Wilson Sandra Keen Sarah Olney know, disability hate crime is woefully offences. The definition of under reported. Labour will take robust ‘aggravated offences’ must be action against violence and hate crime, extended to include hostility based developing a cross-department strategy on disability, and legislation such to deliver strong and cohesive as the Equality Act changed if communities. Additionally, Labour will necessary to reflect this. This recruit 10,000 more police officers to would send a clear message that work on community beats. no form of hate crime can be tolerated. We would ensure that Labour will incorporate disability hate law enforcement has the resources crime into law and ensure that under the and training they need to identify Istanbul Convention, disability hate crime hate crime towards disability and and violence against disabled women is prevent it. reported annually, and put in place comprehensive national action plans.

Labour will ensure disabled people have the same access to justice as non-– disabled people. We will strengthen the Equality Act in order to reflect the social model of disability, empower disabled people to be confident in challenging all forms of discrimination and prejudice, where ever it occurs 17. What are your/ your party’s plans to ensure The Labour party's stated aim is to "build The Liberal Democrats want to disabled people’s access on an equal basis with a society according to the social model of ensure that all members of our others to the environment, public spaces, disability, removing the barriers facing society can participate in an active transport, information and communication, so that disabled people to accessing fashion, without impediment or disabled people can participate in social, cultural, independent public services, education,

Question Labour – Lib Dem – Ranjeev Walia Munira Wilson Sandra Keen Sarah Olney political and family life on an equal basis with employment, transport, justice and hindrance, in all aspects of our others? How will you support the creation of legal housing." socio-cultural-political life. status for British Sign Language? The next Labour government will bring The specific issues about access about real change, creating a fairer, to transportation in this question more equal and diverse society in which are addressed in the answer to disabled people are able to live Question 5. independent lives and are treated with dignity and respect. A Labour We have committed to introducing government will usher in a new era of a British Sign Language Act to give equality, inclusion and citizenship. An era BSL full legal recognition. in which "nothing about us without us" is

at the heart of government.

We will build a transformative movement, capable of reshaping disabled people's lives and capable of demolishing the hostile environment framework that marginalises so many in Britain today.

Labour will honour its commitment to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Disabled People (UNCRPD) signed by the previous Labour government in 2009. We will do this by incorporating the UNCRPD into UK law working with disabled people every step of the way.

Labour will undertake a review in

Question Labour – Lib Dem – Ranjeev Walia Munira Wilson Sandra Keen Sarah Olney partnership with disabled people's organisations of sports, arts and leisure venues to determine how access to people with different conditions and impairments can best be improved.

Labour needs to increase disabled peoples political representation in this country. Labour will continue to lead the way in the political representation of disabled people, through the policies we develop as a party and seek to implement in government. As a party, Labour will adopt accessible selection processes at local, regional and national levels of political office.

Labour will also ensure reasonable adjustments for disabled candidates in recognition of the additional cost that they face. We will consider how to ensure increased diversity at all levels, including the judiciary and elected Mayors.

Labour will adopt a British Sign Language Act – giving BSL full legal recognition.

Question Labour – Lib Dem – Ranjeev Walia Munira Wilson Sandra Keen Sarah Olney 18. What will you/your party do to create Labour will halve the disability The Access to Work scheme improvements in the Access to Work (AtW) employment gap by supporting provides valuable assistance in scheme, to provide investment in high quality employers to retain disabled employees. supporting those with a disability in employment support and legally enforceable We will bring back specialist employment their employment, both through the duties on employers in both public and private advisors. provision of physical adjustments sectors to reflect the diversity of the UK population to help their employee in their work in their workforce? Labour will introduce a government place and through intangible backed Reasonable Adjustment Passport scheme to help people move support, such as facilitating between jobs more easily, building on discussions with an employer the work published by the TUC. about adjustments to make and providing awareness training. Labour will give statutory rights to The Liberal Democrats would workplace equalities representatives and increase awareness of the AtW set up a Royal Commission to bring health (including mental health) and scheme, both among disability safety legislation up to date. employment advisors and employers so that greater numbers Labour will update the Equality Act to can seek support to return or introduce new specific duties including remain in their jobs. disability leave, paid and recorded separately from sick leave. Labour work On workforce diversity we would with trade unions and employers to raise improve diversity in public awareness of neurodiversity – a term appointments by setting ambitious covering but not limited to autism, ADHD, targets, which go further than dyslexia dyspraxia and dyscalculia - in targets for the private sector, and the workplace, in public services and require reporting against progress across wider society. with explanations when targets are not met. We have proposed a

Question Labour – Lib Dem – Ranjeev Walia Munira Wilson Sandra Keen Sarah Olney Working with disabled people's ‘Skills Wallets’ which would be a organisations and trade unions, Labour £10,000 education investment for will review support for disabled people to people to use to retrain throughout find and stay in work. This will include their lives, and that would be exploring how we can expand strengthen accessible to everyone. and better promote Access to Work support. We will also include evaluating We will be extending the Equality the delivery of Access to Work and how Act to cover all large companies people first qualify for the service, with more than 250 employees, periods between assessments and requiring them to monitor and ensuring it is integrated with other publish data on gender, BAME, services and the social security system. disability, and LGBT+ employment

levels and pay gap. We will also Labour values the role of supported develop a free, comprehensive employment and specialist employment services, and will continue to review how unconscious bias training toolkit best to promote this important sector of and make the provision of the economy. unconscious bias training to all members of staff of large companies as a condition of the receipt of public funds. 19. How do you and your party plan to ensure the The climate crisis affects all of us. But it The Liberal Democrats understand needs of Disabled people are recognised and does not affect everyone equally. We that the climate emergency is addressed in the development of a climate should recognise that the effects of important and urgent and that it emergency plan? climate change, and also the steps we does not affect everyone equally. need to take to avert a crisis, may be Disabled people can be worse for disabled people than others. It disproportionately affected by its is therefore important to ensure that the effects (e.g. extreme weather like

Question Labour – Lib Dem – Ranjeev Walia Munira Wilson Sandra Keen Sarah Olney voices of disabled people are heard as storms and floods) and should part of the debate on climate change. therefore be included in all steps of the process of a climate emergency plan. We will work to make sure that information about climate change is made available and accessible to disabled people with easy to read information, that is geared towards their needs, for example, our legal recognition of British Sign Language would require all government information to be compliant with the law. Minimising environmental damage will mean making changes to people’s way of life. We want to establish UK and local citizen’s assemblies to engage the public in tackling the climate emergency. These will of course be representative of society, ensuring that changes affecting disabled people will be designed and developed with their full involvement.

Question Labour – Lib Dem – Ranjeev Walia Munira Wilson Sandra Keen Sarah Olney We also want to establish UK and local citizen’s assemblies to engage the public in tackling the climate emergency. These will representative of society, ensuring that disabled people will be represented consistently and effectively. Minimising environmental damage will mean making changes to people’s way of life. Changes affecting disabled people need to be created through engagement, consultation, and co-design to ensure that their needs are met. 20. For you and your party, what are the big issues The biggest issues facing the NHS are A major part of the Liberal facing the NHS and social care and what is your the lack of funding, privatisation, and the Democrat manifesto is devoted to party's approach to solving them? threat of the NHS being carved up in a shaping a plan for the NHS that Trump/Johnson trade deal. ensures that there is a linked up and cohesive response to solving A Labour government will end the crisis the consequences of the massive in our health and care services, plan for funding gaps that previous Tory the future and guarantee real-terms pay and Labour governments have rises every year. Agenda for Change allowed to occur on their watch. terms and conditions will be put into law alongside safe staffing limits for all staff. We will invest, train and develop NHS 47

Question Labour – Lib Dem – Ranjeev Walia Munira Wilson Sandra Keen Sarah Olney staff throughout their careers. We will From the many significant issues introduce a training bursary for nurses, facing the NHS and our social care midwives and allied health professionals systems we believe the following five are most relevant to us in the A Labour government will invest in the Twickenham and Richmond. NHS to give patients the modern, well- Brexit: The entire Brexit process resourced services they need. We will will, and already has, undermined increase expenditure across the health the efforts to improve NHS through sector by an average 4.3% a year. due to its probable effect on workforce recruitment drives and Labour will end and reverse privatisation EU NHS staff retention. It would in the NHS in the next Parliament. We lead to a significantly weaker will repeal the Health and Social Care economy, which would mean less Act and reinstate the responsibilities of funding, medicine shortages and the Secretary of State to provide a the list goes on. Our approach is to comprehensive and universal healthcare stop Brexit and invest the Remain system. We will end the requirement on Bonus from staying in the EU into health authorities to put services out to public services and reducing competitive tender. inequalities across the board. Funding: NHS and social care are We will publish an infrastructure plan to significantly underfunded, leading return NHS England to the international to increasing waiting times, average level of capital investment and inadequate staffing levels, to ensure future decisions are declining quality of care etc. We will put funding into the NHS transparent and balanced fairly between through the 1p on income tax every region. policy where it’s needed most. We also want to focus on preventative measures to help (e.g. restoring

Question Labour – Lib Dem – Ranjeev Walia Munira Wilson Sandra Keen Sarah Olney A Labour government will develop a public health grant funding to local planned model of joined-up community authorities) because prevention is care, enabling people to live longer lives better than cure. In regards to the disabled community this would in better health in their own homes. mean more resources being We will allocate a greater proportion of available to help the some of the overall funding to close-to-home health most vulnerable members of our services and build interdisciplinary, society and increased attention patient-focused services across primary and focus on their requirements care, mental health and social care. and needs. Staffing: The NHS and social care We will ensure that all parts of the NHS, are facing a staffing crisis. 1 in 11 the treatment of patients, the NHS vacancies are unfilled. There employment of staff and medicine pricing are acute shortages in professions are all fully excluded and protected from such as psychiatry. The Liberal any international trade deals. Democrats would stop Brexit (to stop the exodus of EU workers and maintain access to recruitment pools). We would use some of the 1p on income tax to invest in recruitment (e.g. bursaries for nurses in areas of medicines with shortages). We would create a national workforce strategy that introduces better training opportunities, and measures to reduce burnout and stress (flexible working from outset)

Question Labour – Lib Dem – Ranjeev Walia Munira Wilson Sandra Keen Sarah Olney Mental health: We want to treat mental health the same as physical health. The Liberal Democrats will give the NHS and social care services the necessary funding by putting a penny in the pound on income tax. Ring-fencing funding for mental health will ensure we have a cash injection of £11bn to use over the next Parliament. This will focus on matching waiting time standards to those in physical health, expanding mental health workforce and improving child and adolescent mental health services, which of course would include provisions for disabled people. Mental health is a societal issue, but especially so for this sector which is already facing inordinate pressure. Social Care: Social care services are in a state of crisis. There are 120,000 vacancies in the social care workforce. People have been forced to give up their jobs to care for loved ones and fill the caring gap, and our elderly and most

Question Labour – Lib Dem – Ranjeev Walia Munira Wilson Sandra Keen Sarah Olney vulnerable people are missing out on vital care. The Liberal Democrats will transform social care services by putting a penny in the pound on Income Tax to urgently invest in social care. We will also establish a cross-party commission to develop a long-term funding settlement for the NHS and social care and secure its future. By stopping Brexit we will ensure EU citizens continue to live in the UK and work, including in our NHS and social care services. 21. What are your party’s plans for NHS regulation? We will need to consider what form of With regards to care workers we regulation ensures excellence and safety have specific plans to change the in a post-austerity, post-privatisation, regulation that governs them. We post-marketisation world. will introduce a new requirement for professional regulation of all care home managers, who would also be required to have a relevant qualification. For care staff, we will set a target that 70 per cent of care staff should have an NVQ level 2 or equivalent (currently levels are around 50 per cent). We will

Question Labour – Lib Dem – Ranjeev Walia Munira Wilson Sandra Keen Sarah Olney provide support for ongoing training of care workers to improve retention and raise the status of caring. We understand that we need to create an environment where regulators should not be seeking solely to apportion blame to a single individual, but must also address the systemic failures that produce human error – for example recognising that workforce is often under a lot of stress and so errors will occur. Our push to end the staffing crisis that the NHS is facing is part and parcel of our desire to ensure that the NHS maintains its world-class ability to look after, and support those who need it. We are aware that the costs of NHS litigation are increasing. We believe that anyone who is the victim of negligence should have a right to redress, but that the current process for addressing claims

Question Labour – Lib Dem – Ranjeev Walia Munira Wilson Sandra Keen Sarah Olney needs improvement as it creates unintended consequences that are detrimental to refining medical practice and too often fails to deliver satisfactory outcomes for patients. 22. Clinical Commissioning Groups have attracted We will need to consider what form of We need services that fit around mixed views and are seeing mergers including commissioning ensures best use of people’s lives, not ones that force across South West London. What is the future of resources to address patients’ needs in a them to fit their lives around the local commissioning? post-austerity, post-privatisation, post- care they need. This will become marketisation world increasingly important as our population ages and the number of people living with long-term conditions continues to grow. We must move away from a fragmented system to an integrated service with more joined-up care, so that people can design services for their own individual needs. Services for local people should be accountable to them, and the NHS needs to do more to achieve this. The Liberal Democrats want to work towards single place-based budgets for health and social care

Question Labour – Lib Dem – Ranjeev Walia Munira Wilson Sandra Keen Sarah Olney – encouraging greater collaboration between the local NHS and Local Authorities in commissioning. We will particularly encourage Clinical Commissioning Groups and Local Councils to collaborate on commissioning, including further use of pooled budgets, joint appointments and joint arrangements, and encourage emerging governance structures for Integrated Care Systems to include local government, and be accountable to them. The NHS long-term plan does indeed envisage Integrated Care Systems across sub-regional areas, in our case the six boroughs of SW London. I will be discussing with the DASS and Managing Director of NHS Richmond how local commissioning will continue to meet the needs of Richmond residents under the new arrangements, and how the Council, Community Health and

Question Labour – Lib Dem – Ranjeev Walia Munira Wilson Sandra Keen Sarah Olney the other NHS organisations will be working together towards an integrated approach to addressing the health and social care needs of local residents. In the NHS, the number of CCGs has been slowly decreasing, while a new model – the Integrated Care System (ICS) – is gaining favour. The risk in these changes is further loss of democratic local accountability, as the public is understandably confused by the constant changes and new acronyms. We need to develop and increase oversight and public accountability. We believe that public services should be democratically accountable as locally as possible. To ensure there is always local accountability for commissioning decisions, we advocate the principle of local government leading on the commissioning of both health and care services,

Question Labour – Lib Dem – Ranjeev Walia Munira Wilson Sandra Keen Sarah Olney where these are currently commissioned by CCGs. Additionally we will: a) Reform Health and Wellbeing Boards, to make them more accountable and effective. b) Introduce a ‘duty to cooperate’, requiring the NHS, in particular Sustainability and Transformation Partnerships, to engage with Health and Wellbeing Boards to reshape and integrate health and care services that are genuinely locally agreed. c) Make the Chief Officer of the Council the Chief Accountable Officer of each local system. d) Make the commissioning functions of CCGs a responsibility of local county or unitary councils, alongside local government’s other commissioning responsibilities for local public services. 23. What are your and your party’s views on the role Labour will end and reverse privatisation The Liberal Democrat approach to of the market in NHS and social care? How in the NHS in the next Parliament. We the role of the market in the NHS extensive should this role be? will repeal the Health and Social Care has been pragmatic. We want to Act and reinstate the responsibilities of keep the NHS free of cost at the

Question Labour – Lib Dem – Ranjeev Walia Munira Wilson Sandra Keen Sarah Olney the Secretary of State to provide a point of use. We recognise the comprehensive and universal healthcare serious threat of Brexit to the NHS, system. We will end the requirement on and have led the fight in health authorities to put services out to Parliament to oppose opening up competitive tender. and selling off parts of the NHS to companies as part of a post-Brexit trade deal.

We recognise that there are some aspects of market involvement that can increase patient choices without increasing costs of care, and are prepared to support these.

We support the changes to the Health and Social Care Act recommended by the NHS, with the objective of making the NHS work in a more efficient and joined up way, and to end the automatic competitive tendering of services.

We also note that the Labour Party is proposing a major reorganisation of the NHS that would be disruptive and unwanted by NHS leaders. Their plans for

Question Labour – Lib Dem – Ranjeev Walia Munira Wilson Sandra Keen Sarah Olney reorganisation would cost billions that could instead be spent on improving our struggling mental health service and reducing waiting times.