§ Mr. Nigel GriffithsTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has sought from Scottish local authorities as to their degree of preparedness to take on the new community care responsibilities in April 1991; on what date he last sought this information; and what replies he has received on this issue.
§ Mr. LangI met the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities on 15 May to discuss the implementation of the Government's community care proposals. At the meeting the representatives of the convention said that local authorities had made considerable efforts to be ready for implementation on 1 April 1991. Subsequently, in a letter of 29 June to the Secretary of State, the convener of the convention's social work committee indicated that authorities' plans for implementation were at an advanced stage in preparation for 1 April 1991. I believe, however, that the phasing we have now proposed will allow more effective implementation of the changes.
§ Mr. Nigel GriffithsTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will estimate the effect of the new community care responsibilities on the personal community charge levels in 1991 in each region of Scotland.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonThis is a matter for individual local authorities to determine, but, in the light of the revised implementation plan for community care which my right hon. and learned Friend announced last week and the aggregate external finance settlement which he announced earlier today, the effect on community charge levels in 1991–92 should be small.