HC Deb 27 January 1993 vol 217 cc721-2W
Mr. Hinchliffe

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what guidance has been issued to joint consultative committees in respect of implementing community care policies;

(2) what roles joint consultative committees will fulfil in the future operation of health and community care management;

(3) what guidance has been issued governing the make up of the joint consultative committees in areas where opt out hospitals, purchasing authorities and health authorities co-exist;

(4) what steps she plans to improve joint planning and joint working arrangements between local authorities and health care providers;

(5) if joint consultative committees' rules and responsibility are uniform throughout England and Wales; and if she will make a statement;

(6) what steps she proposes to avoid duplication of function between health provider and local authority joint consultative committee arrangements and other management mechanisms for health and community care delivery.

Mr. Yeo

The community care reforms introduce new incentives and requirements for joint planning and working between health and local authorities both for purchasers and providers. Detailed guidance has been issued to authorities to enable them to develop their arrangements.

The policy guidance issued in 1990, which followed up the White Paper "Caring for People", made it clear that authorities should find the framework for developing joint planning and joint working which best suited them. Joint consultative committees will continue to advise health authorities and local authorities on the planning and operation of services which are of common concern to both. Their functions include making recommendations for payments by health authorities in connection with community care and other projects promoted by local authorities and other bodies.

The statutory provisions relating to joint consultative committees including their composition are set out in Sections 22 and 28A of the National Health Service Act 1977 and in the Joint Consultative Committees Order 1985 (SI 1985 No. 305) which have effect in England and Wales. Recent guidance concerning joint consultative committees and their functions has been issued in circulars HSG(92)43 and LAC(92)17. Copies of all these documents are available in the Library.