§ Mr. BurnsTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many local authorities had incurred fines following the introduction of the Community Care (Delayed Discharges etc) Act 2003, at the latest available date; how much the fines for each local authority have been since the Act came into force; what the total amount of fines incurred by local authorities is; and if he will make a statement. [162617]
§ Dr. Ladyman[holding answer 22 March 2004]Figures for legal liability for delayed discharges for individual councils are not currently held centrally although data on the number of delays and the level of legal liabilities will be available in due course, once the data have been validated. However 17 councils have indicated that they have no liabilities for charges since reimbursement came into force. Further, the majority of social services departments have arranged local investment agreements with the national health service and will only pay charges once they exceed this locally agreed level of investment.