HC Deb 14 May 2003 vol 405 cc281-2W
Mr. Drew

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the timetable is for the letting of the new contract for the national co-ordinating body for Home Improvement Agencies. [113053]

Mr. McNulty

In accordance with EU competition rules and Government procurement policy, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister will shortly be going out to tender for a new contract to be funded centrally. The new contract will be in place from 1 April 2004.

Mr. Drew

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what evaluation he has undertaken cf the effectiveness of Foundations, the national co-ordinating body for Home Improvement Agencies. [113054]

Mr. McNulty

As part of a continuing dialogue, officials of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister agree an annual plan with Foundations and have detailed quarterly round-up meetings with them to ensure that they are meeting the requirements of the contract.

Mr. Drew

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what funding central government has allocated for Home Improvement Agencies in each of the last three years; and what its projected budgets are for each of the next three years. [113055]

Mr. McNulty

The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister funding for the years requested are tabled as follows:

£ million
2000–01 6.7
2001–02 8.5
2002–03 8.5
2003–04 8.5
2004–05 10.5
2005–06 10.5

This funding is ring-fenced within the Supporting People programme for 2003–04. Thereafter, it will be for local authorities (county councils in the case of two-tier administrations) to manage funding for Home Improvement Agencies within their budgets for Supporting People services, in line with the strategy agreed by the local Commissioning Body.

Over the period 2003–04 to 2005ndash;06 the Department of Health will be providing £9.5 million earmarked for Home Improvement Agencies so that they can become key players in the provision of services to older people on discharge from hospital.

Mr. Drew

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to the written statement of 6 May 2003,Official Report, columns 28–29WS, on the Home Improvement Agency, what consultation was undertaken in advance of the statement; with whom; and if he will publish the local commissioning models and statements consulted upon. [113052]

Mr. McNulty

The written statement issued on 6 May reflects the outcome of the public consultation exercise launched in September 2002, and a series of meetings of a Home Improvement Agency (HIA) policy group at which the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, the Department of Health, agencies and other key stakeholders were represented. That group also had the opportunity to consider draft recommendations from Foundations' separate research project, which looked to establish optimum structures and commissioning arrangements for HIA services. It is expected that the final recommendations from Foundations will be made available on their website in due course.