§ 41. Mr. Crouchasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps he is taking to encourage local authorities to improve their local community services so as to relieve the present pressure on hospital beds and consequent expense to the National Health Service.
§ Sir K. JosephThe Government's aim is to ensure the development of adequate hospital and community services so that appropriate care and treatment is given in every case. To this end the Government have increased substantially the allocation of capital over the next few years for hospitals and for community health and personal social services and, through the rate support grant arrangements and in other ways, are encouraging continuing expansion and improvement of home care services.