§ Mr. Paul BurstowTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what the ringfenced budget allocations were for(a) IT projects, (b) disabled children, (c) leaving care, (d) RDWs and (e) the main grant for Quality Protects for the last three years; and what the planned expenditure is for each of the next three years. [82767]
§ Jacqui SmithThe table below shows the amounts ring-fenced in the last three years for improving access to information technology for children in and leaving care; services for disabled children and their families, implementing the Children (Leaving Care) Act 2000; the costs of regional development workers (RDWs); and the main programme grant. The level of personal social services funding for councils for 2003–04 to 2005–06 will be announced shortly as part of the local government settlement announcements.
All figures in £ million 2000 to 2001 2001 to 2002 2002 to 2003 IT projects 9.5 Disabled children 15 15 Leaving Care1 128 298 RDWs2 0.75 1 1 Main grant 117.75 147.25 138 Notes: 1 The ring-fence for Leaving Care in 2001–02 covered only the second half of the year, i.e. from implementation of the Children (Leaving Care) Act 2000 on 1 October 2001. Funding to assist councils in preparing for implementation was included in the main grant. 2 As well as the costs of employing the RDWs and their assistants, the amount shown for RDWs also covers other development work including part funding for the Education Protects implementation team, who are helping councils implement the joint Department for Education and Skills and Department of Health Guidance on the Education of Children and Young People in Public Care.