§ Mr. GallieTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he proposes to take to ensure that full use is made of the independent sector in the development of community care policy.
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§ Mr. LangTwo of the key objectives of our community care policy are the development of a flourishing mixed economy of care, alongside good quality public services, and securing better value for money. In order to achieve this I issued a direction on choice of residential care and I have asked all social work authorities to provide information about how this is implemented. I also consider it necessary that social work authorities should be aware of the full cost of their own provision and that this information should be publicly available. Under my powers under section 199 of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 I am asking all authorities to let me have a statement of the full costs of their homes and will emphasise the need to have full regard to value for money when making decisions on the purchase of residential care places.
I am monitoring closely, through statistical returns made to my Department, the level of use of the independent sector by local authorities and in the light of this will consider whether any further action is needed.