This is the fourteenth report to be laid pursuant to section 11 of the Disabled Persons (Services, Consultation and Representation) Act 1986 as amended by the Health and Social Care Act 2001 which requires the Secretary of State to lay annually before Parliament:
a report containing such information as he considers appropriate with respect to the development of health and social services for persons with mental illness;
a report containing such information as he considers appropriate with respect to the development of health and social services for persons with learning disabilities;
such other information as he considers appropriate.
A report under section 11 has not been published since 2003. The Department has published information about service and policy developments, but apart from the Departmental annual report, this information has not been laid before Parliament and therefore does not meet the statutory duty. This report highlights developments since 2003 in services for people with mental illness and learning disabilities. It also provides the statistical data required under section 11(1) (b) of the Act.