§ Mr. MichaelTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what he estimates as being the total additional cost that will fall on local authorities in order to implement the Children Act 1989 in full(a) in the present financial year and (b) in a full financial year.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyCentral Government do not specify in detail how local authorities should allocate the overall resources available to them but rather indicate their view of appropriate spending through standard spending control totals. The total covering personal social services for children (including specific grants) was £1,540.9 million for 1991–92, an increase of £139.9 million (18.4 per cent.) over the equivalent figure for 1990–91. This increase allows for the part-year implementation of the Children Act from October 1991. The equivalent figure for 1992–93 will not be available until details of the settlement are known.