§ Mr. Alfred Morrisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services by what amount, in money and percentage terms, spending by local authorities on services for chronically sick and disabled persons is expected to increase in the year 1971–72 compared with 1970–71; what is the planned increase in the case of each county and county borough; if he is satisfied with those figures in each case; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. AlisonAbout £1.5 million—12½ per cent.—in England and Wales on services provided under Section 29 of the National Assistance Act, 1948. This increase was agreed in the negotiations preceding the Rate Support Grant Order, 1970, which covers the two years 1971–72 and 1972–73. Additionally, the Government agreed to an increase of £5 million in expenditure in 1971–72 ranking for Rate Support Grant on the elderly and mentally handicapped, some of which can be expected to be devoted to chronically sick and disabled persons. I am satisfied that the total increase is reasonable in present circumstances.
Information is not available relating to estimated expenditure by individual local authorities. Nor is it available for the element of expenditure in the health and housing services attributable to services for chronically sick and disabled persons.