§ Mr. John Grantasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will set up a review into the community and personal social services provided by local authorities, with a view to establishing whether the provision made for pensioners is adequate, and to evaluate the extent to which public expenditure cuts have reduced these services.
§ Mr. Geoffrey FinsbergNo. It is for the local authorities themselves to determine their provision of personal social services and the priorities as between different forms of need. Overall there has been an increase in real terms in personal social services spending during the Government's period of office.