§ Mr. HinchliffeTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the earliest date on which financial and statistical information about community care arrangements by social services authorities will be available following community care implementation on 1 April 1993.
§ Mr. YeoBudgetary information for the financial year 1993–94 should be available from local authorities by the end of May 1993.
Mr. HinchcliffeTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what arrangements for monitoring and evaluating community care arrangements by health and social services authorities after 1 April 1993 she intends to put into place;
(2) how she will monitor the development by social services authorities of day and domiciliary services after 1 April 1993; and if she will make it her policy that adequate special transitional grant for community care will be available for this purpose;
(3) what steps she will take to monitor the involvement of users and carers in assessment of need for community care; and if she will make it her policy to make additional resources available for this purpose if necessary in the light of monitoring current arrangements.
§ Mr. YeoMonitoring of authorities' implementation of new community care arrangements will be carried out by a variety of means, including the work of regional health authorities and the social services inspectorate, routine financial and statistical returns and other sources of information. The need for additional resources for community care will be considered as part of the public expenditure process in the normal way.
§ Mr. HinchliffeTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what advice she intends to give social services authorities on their duty to meet the assessed needs of individuals for community care services; and if she will make a statement.
§ Mr. YeoAuthorities duties are set out in legislation. We have issued practice guidance on assessment procedures, and we are considering whether to issue further guidance on certain aspects of those procedures.