§ Mr. Alfred Morrisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what action his Department has taken over the last year to seek to ensure that local authorities are fulfilling their duties under the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970.
§ Mr. NewtonPrime responsibility for monitoring the implementation of the Act rests with local authorities themselves. We continue, however, to collect information about the manner in which the Act is operating in the ways indicated to the right hon. Member in my reply to him on 16 April at columns122–23. In addition, if prima facie evidence is provided that a local authority is in breach of its statutory duty, further inquiries are made into the matter. Such inquiries have been made in two cases over the past year.