His Majesty’s Government of Gibraltar notes the statement issued yesterday by the Special Needs Action Group (SNAG) regarding disability services in Gibraltar. Whilst the Government fully accepts that more can always be done to improve the provision of disability services in Gibraltar it questions the impartiality and the unreasonably aggressive tone of the statements issued by SNAG.  If SNAG intends to operate as an independent body representing all people with disabilities in Gibraltar, then it must act without political bias. If, however, SNAG aligns itself with the GSD, which it is entitled to do, it should explicitly declare this affiliation. Changing the logo at the top of a Press Release does nothing to erase the outright and blatant political affiliations of those who wrote it.

Support for persons with disabilities in Gibraltar has reached unprecedented levels under the GSLP/Liberal administration, with significant advancements that include the National Disability Strategy and the Supported Needs and Disability Office (SNDO), which now offer personalised support for individuals with disabilities across Gibraltar. This level of service provision DID NOT EXIST under the GSD administration. Furthermore, a specialised disability office within the Gibraltar Health Authority (GHA) has been established to improve healthcare access for those with specific needs, and supported employment programmes have been expanded and enhanced.

The Government has also transformed our education system to make better provision for those with special needs and disabilities. This Government has not only built TEN new schools in Gibraltar, including a new St Martin’s school, but has also ensured that there is now a Learning Support Facility at virtually every school. There was only one LSF when the GSD left Government.

As part of the National Disability Strategy, a gap analysis has been conducted across every government department, authority, and agency to assess current needs and set future goals. The SNDO has developed a strategic delivery plan to address these findings, forming the core of the National Disability Strategy, which consists of an internal Government strand and a Private Sector strand. The internal strand has been comprehensively researched, with consultations conducted with UK experts, local NGOs, the Supported Needs and Disability Council (of which SNAG is a member but did not attend the latest meeting), and individuals with lived experience. The SNDO has engaged with most Heads of Departments to implement the strategic delivery plan, and consultations will be completed this month, with all departments beginning active implementation by December. Work on the Private Sector strand is set to begin in January. Later this month, supported needs and disability coordinators from every government department will receive targeted training to support colleagues, service users and policy development across Government.

The Government has already sought the extension of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) to Gibraltar and will continue working with the UK Government while it reviews our request for extension.

Additionally, a legislative review of Building Control and Regulations is underway to address Section 14 of the Disability Act. New construction in Gibraltar already adheres to Part R regulations, and disability representation has been integrated into the Town Planning Process.

Finally, this Government has invested more than ever in domiciliary care, with nearly £4m being spent in assisting over 500 persons and their families. This substantial funding stands in stark contrast to the GSD's allocation of just £750,000 in 2011/2012. This represents an increase in investment by this Government of five times the amount invested by the GSD.

The Government is ready and willing to work with all genuine advocates for disability support and encourages SNAG to clarify its intentions in the interest of transparency. The Government understands that people with disabilities, as well as their relatives, have issues that are not entirely capable of resolution and that the Government is looking to what it can do, in addition to what it already does, to help those families. However, turning issues of disability into a party political battle, whether directly or indirectly through proxies is not going to help people with disabilities or their relatives.  SNAG and the GSD opposition spokesperson should avoid playing such games and with people's emotions on this sensitive subject.