[Bazf]

HEALTH chiefs have sparked controversy by planning to create a post of “learning disabilities tsar” — who MUST have learning disabilities.
Angry campaigners last night branded it a politically correct “gimmick” and warned it will be a waste of taxpayers’ money.
And they accused the Government of having “more tsars than Imperial Russia”.
The successful applicant will help the National Director for Learning Disabilities, Rob Greig, to “understand the problems” faced by those living with such disabilities.
The post has yet to be filled and Whitehall bosses refuse to reveal what the salary will be.
But previous tsars — like drugs supremo Keith Hellawell — got more than £100,000 a year.
Learning difficulties range from dyslexia — problems understanding words and reading — to severe autism, where a sufferer has difficulty making sense of the world around them and needs constant care.
Yesterday the National Campaign Against Political Correctness said the tsar’s wage would be better spent on real services.

It argued that ministers could have asked for advice from learning disability groups and should have used the cash on teachers and care workers.
A spokesman for the NCAPC said: “It seems to be a pointless appointment and a waste of taxpayers’ money.
“Surely the money should be spent on front-line services rather than these politically correct gimmicks. It seems that we have more tsars than Imperial Russia.”
Bosses are not advertising the job and are instead hunting for candidates from within the learning handicapped community.
Mr Greig said: “Appointing a person with learning disabilities to this salaried role is a significant step forward.
“I hope other organisations follow our lead and employ people with learning disabilities at the highest possible level.”
A Department of Health spokesman said: “We know the evidence and experiences of learning disabled people can have influence over the way laws are made, which is what we would like to see.
“We also want to lead by example and show the value of giving paid employment to people with learning disabilities.”