The main legal requirements for local authorities and health boards to provide social, health, housing, education, employment and services for people with learning disabilities are set out below.

1968 Social Work (Scotland) Act

Section 12

This places a general duty on every local authority to promote social welfare by making advice, guidance and help available on a scale appropriate for their area.

Section 12A

This was added by the 1990 National Health Service and Community Care Act (see section 55). The 1968 Social Work (Scotland) Act was also amended by the 1995 Carers (Recognition and Services) Act. This places a duty on the local authority to carry out community care assessments and then decide whether to provide services.

Section 14

This places a general duty on every local authority to provide domiciliary services for households where there are people in need. It also gives the power to provide laundry facilities for these households.

1972 Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons (Scotland) Act

This Act extends sections 1 and 2(1) of the 1970 Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act to Scotland.

Section 1 (of the 1970 Act)

This places a duty on every local authority (which has a role under section 12 of the 1968 Act) to know about the numbers of disabled people living in their area and the need to make arrangements for these people. Every local authority should publish general information about the services they provide. They are also to let disabled people know about relevant services that they know others provide.

Section 2(1) (of the 1970 Act)

This lists the arrangements that can be made to help disabled people.

These include:

• • Practical help for that person in his or her home

• • Getting, or helping someone to get a radio, TV, phone, or specialist equipment to be able to use a phone

• • Help in using library, recreational or educational facilities

• • Providing facilities to and from home, or helping with travel

• • Adaptations to the home

• • Holidays

• • Meals.

Section 21

This is the Orange Badge Scheme of parking concessions for disabled and blind people.

1973 Employment and Training Act (as amended by the 1993 Trade Union Reform and Employment Rights Act)

This sets out the duty of the Secretary of State for Scotland to provide relevant services for helping people in education to decide on future employment, and what training may be necessary to fit them for this employment.