DEVIZES MP was given a warning by staff from a disability charity about the effect the living wage will have on its work unless the Government helps meet a cash shortfall.

Mrs Perry was at the learning disabilities charity Hft in Rowde, near Devizes, to speak to both people who are helped by the organisation and workers.

Linda Newland, Hft’s Occupation and Employment facilitator said the visit provided an opportunity to showcase its work which includes providing residential care and supporting people to live in their own homes and take part in a range of leisure activities within the local community.

She said: “We were delighted to welcome Claire to our service in Devizes. During the visit she was able to see for herself the tremendous job our staff do on a daily basis to support people with learning disabilities.

“Claire was also able to listen to the concerns of some of the people we support and staff around the impact of the National Living Wage. We fully support the payment of the National Living Wage.

"It is a good policy but it has created an unsustainable situation for all support providers and will threaten everything we have worked hard to achieve for the people we support in this area.”

Mrs Perry said: “It was a real pleasure to visit Hft’s Service in Devizes and meet with the staff and residents. I was delighted to hear about all exciting projects which are taking place, including home grown apple juice.

"Together with Cllr Jerry Wickham, cabinet member at Wiltshire Council for health and social care we also discussed Hft’s It Doesn’t Add Up Campaign which aims to ensure that people with learning disabilities receive appropriate funding.”

Views of people supported by the charity are represented by Hft's Voices To Be Heard group and it visited the House of Commons in November to present information about Hft's It Doesn't Add Up campaign which was launched in response to the introduction of the National Living Wage to raise awareness of the funding pressures faced by social care providers.

On Friday both Mrs Perry and Mr Wickham were given more of an insight into the issue from the charity's point of view and the effect the new law will have on its ability to deliver services.

Hft wants the Government to increase its funding by five per cent a year.