§ Mr. WigleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if, in the light of the delay in the implementation of the community care proposals, local authorities will be expected to begin to arrange contractual agreements with voluntary organisations as from April 1991.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyMany local authorities already have contractual agreements or service arrangements with voluntary organisations. There is nothing to prevent them from continuing or developing such arrangements. Contractual agreements will not be a requirement from April 1991, but encouragement to local authorities to move towards their enabler role will continue as part of taking forward our community care proposals.