§ Mr. HannamTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will give priority to his reassessment of the part played by joint finance under his community care proposals.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyThe part played by joint finance is being reassessed in the light of the policies contained in the White Paper "Caring for People". However, there are no immediate plans for changes to existing arrangements.
§ Mr. HannamTo ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he considered the training needs of service providers under his community care proposals; whether voluntary organisations with experience in this area were involved in his discussions on the issue; and whether he will issue guidance on this to local authorities.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyThe training needs of service providers, whether in the statutory or independent sector were considered in formulating our proposals announced in the White Paper "Caring for People". The Department is in regular consultation with the National Council for Voluntary Organisations and individual voluntary organisations. Training is an integral part of implementing our proposals. There are no immediate plans to issue formal guidance to local authorities specifically on training.