§ Mr. HinchliffeTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he has any plans to take action to prevent local authorities from transferring their care homes to not-for-profit trusts.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyNo. As we said in the White Paper "Caring for People" we shall expect local authorities to make use, whenever possible, of services from voluntary, "not-for-profit" and private providers in so far as this represents a cost-effective care choice.