§ Mr. Jim CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the levels of charges by local authorities for non-residential day-care services; and what plans he has to introduce guidance on the appropriate levels of such charges. [78920]
§ Mr. HuttonInformation on charges made to individuals for non-residential services is not available centrally. However, the total amounts reported by local authorities as having been received from clients in the form of fees and charges, in 1996–97, for different services are collected centrally, and are available in the form of computer tables on the Department's World Wide Web pages [Internet reference http:\\www.open.gov.uk/doh/public/pssstat.htm] for all local authorities in England.
657WWe will consider what action to take to make the present charging system for non-residential services more equitable, including the case for guidance on appropriate levels of charges, when we have assessed the recommendations of the royal commission's report on long-term care, and the results of a survey by the Audit Commission on local authority charging practices.