§ Dr. Roger Thomasasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will issue guidance to health authorities as to the best methods of transferring chronic alcoholics from overcrowded institutions to the community; what is his assessment of the extent to which the problem can be handled in this way; and whether he will provide central Government finance and support for the purpose to local authority social services departments.
§ Mr. Geoffrey FinsbergI have been asked to reply.
"Care in Action"—A handbook of policies and priorities for the health and personal services in England. HMSO £3.30 net—last year reminded health and local authorities in England that it has been a major policy objective to develop community care for those who would benefit from it, including alcoholics; and it is for them to plan and develop services in the light of local needs and circumstances. No reliable assessment of those needs, or responses to them, can be made centrally.
National Health Service joint finance, available mainly for agreed social services schemes, is to be increased to almost £85 million in 1982–83.