Phil Prendergast (Labour)

Will workers in the service have the powers of enforcement promised in the Citizens Information Act 2007? The evaluation of projects in the community and voluntary sector highlighted the difficulties experienced by many advocates in representing clients, with service providers and others refusing to recognise the advocates, to allow them to attend meetings or reply to letters on behalf of disabled people. The personal advocacy service was seen as important when the Disability Act was passed in 2005, yet it has not been commissioned. The new service presents a good opportunity to ensure new advocates will be given the powers envisaged for the personal advocacy service at no extra cost to the taxpayer.

I did not get a chance to say all I wanted to say. I await with interest the Minister of State's answers to my questions.