§ Mr. Austin-WalkerTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to compensate local authorities for additional costs from the implementation of the Social Security (Persons from Abroad) Miscellaneous Amendments Regulations 1996 in respect of their statutory duties under the National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990 and Children Act 1989. [21594]
§ Mr. BowisOn 11 January,Official Report, columns 331–65, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for 191W Social Security announced that the Government proposed to assist local authorities with any unavoidable additional costs arising under the homelessness legislation or the Children Act 1989.
The Government have since decided that a special grant under section 88B of the Local Government Finance Act 192W 1988 will cover 80 per cent. of social services authorities' unavoidable additional expenditure above a certain threshold.
The grant will be paid in arrears on the basis of evidence submitted by authorities. Threshold levels have yet to be determined.