HC Deb 24 March 2004 vol 419 cc913-4W
Miss McIntosh

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his policy is on the differentials between rates paid by local authorities for residents in local authority care homes and those paid for residents in private care homes in the same local authority area. [163041]

Dr. Ladyman

Where council-run services are more expensive than those provided by the independent sector, councils need to demonstrate through best value reviews that those higher costs are justified.