§ 77. Mr. Altonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he has any plans to introduce revised guidelines on home care helps.
§ Mr. John PattenWe have no such plans. The former guidelines were suggested in 1972 in the context of proposed local authority 10-year development plans and were explained at the time as being as starting point by reference to which authorities would be able to determine their local forecasts on a considered and realistic basis in the light of local needs. The Department's response to a recommendation by the Select Committee on Social Services in its 1981–82 report made it clear that
we do not consider that indicative national target levels of provision would be meaningful in local terms and regard it as the business of local authorities to set local targets in terms of local need and provision and to monitor local progress in achieving them.