§ Ms WalleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what his timetable is for reviewing the residential care allowance as proposed in the White Paper, "Modernising Social Services". [116750]
§ Mr. HuttonAs my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced in the House on 2 December 1999,Official Report, columns 444-45, we are examining the implications of phasing out the residential allowance and transferring the resources to councils as part of the year 2000 spending review, which will be completed this summer. We are planning to seek the views of councils, service users and their carers and families and care providers on the impact of such a change over the next few weeks. We shall publish a White Paper on long-term care later this year.