HC Deb 13 July 1982 vol 27 cc373-4W
54. Mr. Hardy

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if, in view of the reduced provision being made for the personal welfare function of local government, he expects the obligations of the National Health Service to increase.

Mr. Newton

The Government do not make direct provision for local authority personal social services, although rate support grant and other grants contribute to local authorities' income. The Government's expenditure plans (Cmnd. 8494) imply that local authorities will have to make significant real economies overall: but in realising the plans it is for authorities to make their own choices between services within the limits of the statutory obligations. We would expect local authorities and health authorities to concert their health and personal social services locally, by means of the statutory arrangements for joint planning and collaboration. Expenditure by local authorities on personal social services is augmented by health authority contributions to jointly financed projects designed to avoid burdens falling on the NHS.