§ Mr. Pavittasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how he expects the provision of services under Section 2 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act to develop; and whether he is satisfied that local authorities are aware of the importance to be attached to these services.
§ Mr. Alfred MorrisMy right hon. Friend has made clear in both the Consultative Document Priorities for Health and Personal Social Services in England (HMSO: 1976) and the sequel to it The Way Forward—HMSO: September 1977 —that he accords high priority to provision of these services and that this should be taken into account by planning development of services. He has now written to all local authorities enclosing the 1978–79 guidelines for planning, which reaffirm the general priorities set out in The Way Forward, and I am glad to have this opportunity to reiterate that it remains our policy to accord priority to services provided under the Act.
As my hon. Friend will be aware, the determination of need under the Act must 719W be judged in the light of the individual circumstances of the disabled person, not of any general definition or criteria. Moreover, according to the advice I have received, once need has been accepted a service given under Section 2 cannot be withdrawn in the absence of a reduction of need. I have instructed my officials to inquire into any case where there is reason to think that a local authority may be in breach of its statutory duty. In each case so far, I have received a co-operative and constructive reply. In general, local authorities have made commendable progress.