HC Deb 08 December 1983 vol 50 cc233-4W
Mr. Dobson

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his estimate for the current year and each of the next two years of the increased costs to local authorities of providing care in the community for people spending less time in acute hospital beds, the closure of convalescent homes, and homes for the elderly, the mentally-sick and mentally-handicapped and disabled persons.

Mr. John Patten

The Government set expenditure guidance for each local authority, which applies to their total—all-services—spending. The actual spending on particular services within that total is for the authorities themselves to determine, and the information needed to make the requested estimates is not available centrally.