§ Dr. Moonieasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he proposes to take to ensure that adequate short term funds are made available to health boards and local authorities, to meet the high cost of setting up properly funded community care schemes for elderly, mentally ill, mentally handicapped and physically disabled people.
§ Mr. Michael ForsythThe level of funding for particular health and social work services is a matter for decision by individual health boards and local authorities in the light of local circumstances and subject to any general guidance they may receive through my Department. Both health boards and local authorities have been made aware of the need to give high priority to community care facilities for the elderly, mentally ill, and mentally and physically handicapped. I see no case for reducing their discretion in the use of resources available to them by earmarking some of them for particular purposes.