§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what action he will take to ensure that any money allocated by the Government for services to disabled people will, in fact, be spent by local authorities on those services;
(2) if he will consider allocating the money budgeted by the Government for services under Section 2 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970 to local authorities as a specific grant on the basis of the regional variations in handicap revealed in the survey by the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys;
(3) what consultations he has had with local authorities about the proposal for a 9 per cent. per annum increase in services provided under Section 2 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970 in the document "Priorities for Health and Personal Social Services in England"; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Alfred MorrisThe Government's contribution to personal social services expenditure is made through the rate support grant, a block grant which the local authorities themselves allocate to their various services, and any change to this system is a matter for discussion and consultation in the light of the report of the Layfield Committee.
I met the local authority associations last week to discuss issues arising from the consultative document on priorities and there are to be further detailed discussions with the associations. A statement will be made as soon as possible.
§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what action he intends to take to level up the services provided by local authorities under Section 2 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970.
§ Mr. Alfred MorrisAs my hon. Friend is aware, the Act places responsibility for providing these services on local authorities. The guidance I give to authorities is designed to promote a more uniform134W level of service. I shall be meeting local authorities to discuss what further guidance I can usefully give to them in the light of the conferences I have held with a wide range of interested organisations, including this year's Sunningdale Conference at which some senior representatives of local government were present.
§ Mr.Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what consultation he has had with local authorities or local authority associations about means testing the services provided under Section 2 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970;
(2) if he will introduce legislation to amend Section 29(5) of the National Assistance Act 1948 in order to regulate the charges which can be made by local authorities for services provided under Section 2 of the (2) Mr. Ashley asked the Secretary of State for Social Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970, so that the purpose of Parliament in laying a duty on local authorities to meet recognised needs is not affected by means tests;
(3) what evidence his Department collects about the means tests operated by individual local authorities for services provided under Section 2 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970;
(4) what advice he has issued to local authorities about the practice of means testing for services provided under Section 2 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act.
§ Mr. Alfred MorrisI understand that the total amount of expenditure recouped is very small. My hon. Friend's Questions will be kept in mind in our contacts with local authorities; and I should be glad to inquire into any particular problems he might wish to raise with me.