North Cornwall MP Ben Maguire backs SEND protection Bill

Families across North Cornwall who care for adults with SEND have often said the system leaves them fighting to be heard. Their MP has now put his name behind a change in the law aimed at that gap.

What the Bill would do

The Liberal Democrat MP for North Cornwall, Ben Maguire, has given his support to cross-party legislation designed to strengthen protections for vulnerable adults by introducing legal duties to assess their mental capacity.

The proposed Mental Capacity (Duty to Assess) Bill seeks to close a long-standing gap in the law. It would make sure vulnerable people are properly assessed when concerns are raised by family members, carers, social workers or healthcare professionals, rather than those concerns being left unanswered.

Why the MP is backing it

Ben Maguire said the Bill closely aligns with his own work supporting families of children and adults with SEND, alongside his wider campaign to improve support for people with learning disabilities and autism.

He pointed to the work he has done since being elected, and to an event he held early on in the constituency.

“Since being elected, I’ve worked closely with parents, carers and people with SEND across North Cornwall who have repeatedly told me how difficult it can be to access the support they need. Within months of becoming their MP, I held a ‘SEND Summit’ for those involved in (and who benefit from) SEND provision in the constituency, to hear firsthand about the real problems they’re facing,” Ben Maguire said.

“That’s why I’m proud today to be supporting this very important cross-party Bill, which would strengthen safeguards for some of the most vulnerable people in our society and make sure any concerns about someone’s mental capacity are properly assessed, rather than overlooked.”