Mr. John D. TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what has been the level of funding for the home help service in the North Down and Ards unit of management of the Eastern health and social services boards in each of the past three years; how many persons received the assistance of home helps in each of these years; and if he will make a statement on the future development of the home help service within the North Down and Ards unit of management.
§ Mr. NeedhamThe information is as follows:
Expenditure £ Recipients 1986–87 962,744 1,354 1987–88 1,187,434 1,378 1988–89 1,255,714 1,320 Responsibility for the management and delivery of the home help service in the North Down and Ards unit of management is primarily a matter for the Eastern health and social services board. The initial allocation of funds to health and social services boards in Northern Ireland in 1989–90 amounted to £696 million. This provides for an 8–4 per cent. increase over 1988–89 and affords boards the scope to increase expenditure on the provision of particular services, including the home help service, in the light of their view of priorities.