§ Mr. MichaelTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what additional funds have been made available to local authorities specifically to provide care in the community for the financial year 1990–91.
§ Mr. Nicholas BennettThe bulk of revenue and capital funding to individual local authorities is provided through152W revenue support grant and basic credit approvals respectively. These are not hypothecated to particular services. The local government revenue settlement for 1990–91 allowed an indicative amount for personal social services of £186.8 million, or 5 per cent. over 1989–90 adjusted budgets; the capital settlement for 1990–91 allowed an assumed gross figure of £10.8 million which represented an increase of 21 per cent. over 1989–90. It is for local authorities to determine how resources should be allocated to particular services. Additional funds provided outside the revenue settlement under Welsh Office initiatives and grant schemes were £1.3 million under the elderly initiative; £0.34 million for training schemes on the development of community care and care management and services to elderly people; £0.47 million under the mental illness strategy and £23.6 million allocated under the mental health strategy. In total, these represent a 50 per cent. increase over 1989–90 expenditure.