Making Decisions Alliance response to the Queen's Speech

The Mental Capacity Bill, which is welcomed by the Making Decisions Alliance (MDA), a coalition of 39 charities, has the potential to transform people's lives for the better. But the MDA wants the Government to give more emphasis in the Bill to the role played by advocates.

This Bill will give people who have difficulty making or communicating decisions - such as those with a learning disability, dementia or mental ill health - more rights over where they live, how they spend their money and other issues which we all take for granted.

Richard Kramer, co-chair of the MDA, said:

'The MDA believes that this Bill is vital for the millions of people who are currently judged incapable of making decisions. It will also give those caring for people more confidence in their rights to be consulted on the treatment and care that they receive.

'We are vigorously campaigning to ensure that the Bill gives a higher prominence to advocacy, as it is vital to making certain that people have a real say in the decisions that affect their lives and in protecting the rights of those who need support to make decisions.'

For further information please contact the press office on 0207 306 0813.

Notes for editors:

• Member organisations of the Making Decisions Alliance are: Action on Elder Abuse, Age Concern England, Alzheimer's Society, Caring Matters, The Centre for Policy on Ageing, The Down's Syndrome Association, Headway, Help the Aged, Leonard Cheshire, Mencap, The Mental Health Foundation, Mind, The National Autistic Society, Patient Concern, The Relatives and Residents Association, Respond, Rethink, Scope, Sense, The Stroke Association and Turning Point, United Response, Kent Autistic Trust, Counsel and Care, Addavoice and POPAN.