I wanted to write to you in order to welcome the Joint Committee on Human Rights current investigation into people with learning disabilities.

  I have heard some very positive comments about its proposed focus from the disability lobby and also parliamentary colleagues. However, I recently met with Andrew Lee from People First, which represents the interests of people with learning disabilities. He was concerned about the two month consultation period the committee had set aside to gather evidence. In particular he noted that organisations that represented people with learning disabilities tend to only meet monthly. He suggested that the current timescales would not be enough time to properly collate and put forward their member's views.

  In my experience effective consultation with the disability lobby is critical in order to understand the realities that disabled people face. I would urge that your committee contact Andrew Lee at People First (his contact details are below) in order consider how to ensure that his, and other learning disability organisations, are effectively engaged in the committee's work.