Ministerial And Celebrity Support for Our Keep Us Close Campaign - Scope

- I'm Rebecca Harris, Member of Parliament for Castle Point in south Essex... ...and I'm here today to support Scope's campaign to make sure that disabled youngsters and their families... ...have the care that they need, near where they need it: close to home. - I naturally urge colleagues, without taking any view on the detail of the Bill myself (which The Speaker should not)... ...to listen carefully to what Scope is saying (as an organisation with vast expertise and experience)... ...about how the Bill can be improved. I want you to know, as I feel sure you do, that you are supported, we do have an interest... ...and we will listen to what you have to say. - As Constituency Members of Parliament, we're very well aware of the many parents and their children... ...who have some disability, and sometimes very severe disabilities. And for them, the level of support that they receive is tremendously important. - From the day that the diagnosis is made, the parents know from that day onwards they're going to have to battle... ...on behalf of their child. - Just the basic things like moving around or being able to go to the shops, or to the school or the library... ...can be much more challenging. So we do need to give extra support to those families to make sure those children thrive. - Very often for disabled children and their families, they can feel extremely isolated and unsupported in their local communities... - It's local that matters so families can spend more time together than going huge distances for appointments... ...Let's make sure that the Families Bill recognises the fact. - As a parent of a child with disability, I think it's vital that campaigning continues... ...to make sure that disabled children's potential is fully realised. - Well I think that it's really important to support disabled children and their families... ...partly because the disabled children can't fight for themselves, often can't tell you what they need. And also because the parents are, in many cases, not all, completely exhausted. - We need facilities for every single child and every family, and I'm really pleased to support the campaign for that. - Christmas is coming, let's give everyone a real Christmas. One to remember by making sure that those families get your support, and ensuring that we are delivering locally. That would be the best Christmas present for all families.