§ Mr. StrangTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on how co-ordination of local authority community care services and health services are to be maintained once local authorities are no longer represented on health authorities as described in paragraph 8.6 of "Working For Patients" (Cm. 555).
§ Mr. Mellor[holding answer 9 May 1989]: Local authorities and health authorities are statutorily obliged to collaborate in the development of services, and mechanisms exist for encouraging liaison between them. Ways in which these mechanisms can be made to work more effectively are being examined as part of our