Today the Down Syndrome Bill has moved a step closer to becoming law. Castle Point MP, Rebecca Harris attended the debate in the House of Commons, to vote in support of the Bill which focuses on improving the lives of those living with Down syndrome.

Rebecca Harris commented “I was pleased to support the Down Syndrome Bill today in Parliament. This is a valuable piece of legislation that will improve services for people with Down syndrome. I’m glad that the Government are supporting this Bill, which is a world first that will rightfully address inequalities faced by people with Down syndrome and will make a real difference to many lives.”

This Bill was introduced as a Private Member’s Bill by Conservative MP Dr Liam Fox. The Bill seeks to benefit some of the 47,000 people in the UK with Down syndrome, by requiring that a number of authorities when providing certain health, social care, education and housing services, take account of Government guidance. The guidance will set out the steps to meet the specific needs of people with Down syndrome. These authorities will also need to take account of the specific needs of people with Down syndrome when planning, designing and providing services and support. Placing a statutory duty on relevant authorities to have due regard to the guidance ensures that there is a level playing field for people with Down syndrome and improves their lives.

You can also keep up to date with the stage of the Bill and its publications at: https://bills.parliament.uk/bills/2899/publications.