Independent Living Fund: consultation responses

Introduction

2. On 18 December 2012, the then UK Minister for Disabled People, Esther McVey MP, announced the decision to close the Independent Living Fund (ILF) permanently from April 2015. This included responsibility and finances being devolved to the Scottish Government.

3. The Scottish Government consultation that ran in 2013, asked for people's views and opinions in respect of the announcement of the closure of the ILF and the announcement that money will be distributed to the devolved administrations. The consultation document posed questions to gauge what and how the resource devolved to the Scottish Government should be used to support disabled people.

4. The Scottish Government sought views on any potential new administration arrangements for distributing the resource following the ILF's closure. They asked for views on balancing the support requirements for existing users of ILF and those who are not in receipt of an award. They also sought views on any potential new focus of support for disabled people who currently do not receive ILF.

5. This report presents the findings of the consultation.