§ 27. Mr. Marksasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what additional support he has given to local authorities and families caring for old people since the publication of the White Paper "Growing Older".
§ Mr. Geoffrey FinsbergLocal authorities do not receive separate allocations for individual services but they have been asked to protect the most vulnerable members of the community.
In each year since 1980–81 there has been a real increase in the allocation for joint finance, some 40 per cent. of which is spent on services for elderly people: for 1983–84 the planned level of allocation is about 20 per cent. more than in 1980–81. We have also maintained the purchasing power of the retirement pension and of cash benefits available to elderly people.