§ Mr. Douglas-Mannasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether ha will issue guidance to local authorities as to the circumstances in which they may withdraw services provided to meet identified and accepted needs of the chronically sick and disabled in the absence of evidence of a reduction of need.
§ Mr. Alfred MorrisAuthorities have a statutory duty under the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act to met identified and accepted needs in respect of the services listed in Section 2. Moreover, I am advised that once need has been accepted, the services cannot be withdrawn unless the need has changed. The effect of this is that services given under the section may not be withdrawn in the absence of a reduction of need. While guidance of a general nature could never be the determining factor in a particular case, because each case must be considered on its merits, we have already sought in a number of public statements to make the effect of the section known to all concerned.