§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give his best estimate of the gross and net costs to local authorities in providing residential care for the elderly and younger physically handicapped, for the mentally ill and mentally handicapped, for the day care of elderly and younger physically handicapped, in the years 1975–76 1976–77, 1977–78, 1978–79, 1979–80 and 1980–81: and if he will give an estimate of central Government contribution to such costs.
§ Sir George YoungThe following table sets out the information requested for the years 1975–76 to 1979–80 (the latest year for which breakdown of expenditure by services is available). The figures exclude joint financing contributions from health authorities since a service breakdown is not available for the whole period.
Central Government support for local government expenditure is principally by means of rate support grants, which is a general grant and unhypothecated in respect of individual services.
§ Dr. VaughanThe Department will shortly hold discussions with representatives of the NHS and the private sector with a view to introducing charges to cover the handling and processing costs incurred by the National Blood Transfusion Service in supplying blood to private hospitals and clinics. No charge will be made for the blood itself which is of course freely donated to the National Blood Transfusion Service.