§ Mr. BurstowTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what research his Department has(a) undertaken and (b) commissioned on the uses to which the integrated community equipment stores budget has been put; and if he will place a copy in the Library. [109368]
§ Jacqui SmithAdditional funding for the integration of community equipment services has been made available to social services and health services as a result of both the 2000 and 2002 spending review settlements. It has been distributed to councils, health authorities and recently primary care trusts as part of their baseline allocations. The Department has not commissioned any research into the uses to which the additional funding has been put.