§ Baroness Stedmanasked Her Majesty's Government:
How a low-spending authority like Cambridgeshire County Council can be expected to meet the increased demands for services to a growing number of elderly persons and meet the Government request for a further reduction in spending of £13.9 million.
§ Lord Cullen of AshbourneLocal authorities have been asked to contribute to reducing public expenditure by meeting the Government's targets for their volume of current expenditure. Within these targets, it is for local authorities themselves to determine their own spending priorities as between particular services in the light of local circumstances. In setting their priorities authorities have been asked to take account of demographic pressures and the need to protect, as far as possible, services for the most vulnerable.
House adjourned at seven minutes before eleven o'clock.