§ Mr. WareingTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received from the Liverpool family service unit respecting funding; and what his response has been.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyI have received a letter from the chairman of the Liverpool family service unit about general funding for the unit. We have also received two applications from the Liverpool family service unit for funding specific projects and these are currently under consideration; it is not however our usual practice to fund local projects from the Department unless they are of national significance.
In responding to the letter from the chairman of the Liverpool family service unit I have pointed out that the overall standard spending assessment—the Government's view of the appropriate level of local authority expenditure —for children's services in 1991–92 showed an increase of 18.4 per cent. over 1990–91, partly in order to take account of the implementation of the Children Act. In 1992–93, the first full year of the Children Act, standard spending on children's services will be over 27 per cent. higher than in 1990–91, or up nearly 14 per cent. in real terms over the two year period.
It is for local authorities to decide how to encourage the provision of services by other, in particular voluntary, organisations within their own area. It is also for authorities to determined in the light of local circumstances the distribution of resources for services within their area.