§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services, pursuant to the replies to the right hon. Member for Stoke on Trent, South on 24 February, Official Report, column 469, if he will appoint representatives of relevant voluntary organisations to the joint working party on residential care; and if he will make a further statement.
§ Mr. NewtonSince the working party will be primarily concerned with the balance between central and local public spending on residential care, we have agreed with the local authority associations that membership should be limited to central and local government representatives. However, we and the local authority associations recognise the important implications of this work for the voluntary sector and have agreed that it should be given a prominent role in the working party's consultations.