§ Mr. HinchliffeTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make assistance available to local authorities to meet revenue expenditure in repect of the provision of secure accommodation for juveniles.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleySecure accommodation in community homes forms part of a range of residential facilities provided by local authorities for children they are looking after. The revenue costs of such accommodation fall to the providing local authority, which may recharge other local authorities making placements there. The local authority associations have an opportunity to express views on pressures that might lead to additional expenditure, or savings, on personal social services as part of the discussions leading to the annual local authority settlement.
Grant aid is available from central Government to meet the full capital cost of providing secure accommodation in community homes.