DISABLED PEOPLE SHOULD NOT BE PUSHED INTO POVERTY

6.04.30pm UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 6th Aug 2008

The HCIL 2008 panellists

Equality of opportunity and supporting disabled and older people to have control and choice in their lives was at the heart of a party political Question Time debate held at the Three Counties Hotel on Wednesday 16th July. The Question Time event was part of the Annual General Meeting of the Herefordshire Centre of Independent Living (HCIL) an organisation of disabled people controlled by disabled people.

All four main political parties were represented in the debate and took turns to answer detailed questions on political party policies and the panellists' personal views to improve the lives of disabled and older people in Herefordshire.

During the debate, Sarah Carr, Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate for Hereford and South Herefordshire, made clear her commitment to fighting discrimination in all its forms and supporting disabled people to have choice and control over their own lives and to maximise their independence.

During the debate in response to a question about the high costs of heating, Sarah said:

"I think it is high time that the Government extend the Winter Fuel Allowance to those disabled people under the age of 60 who receive middle and higher rate care component, or higher rate mobility Disability Allowance. This commitment was in the Liberal Democrat manifesto at the last General Election. Disabled people should not be pushed into poverty."

The Panel for Question Time included Sarah Carr (Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate), Chris Chappell (Labour and past Mayor), Felicity Norman (Green Party), Jesse Norman (Conservative Parliamentary Candidate) and nationally acclaimed stand up comedian Laurence Clark.