§ Mr. HinchliffeTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what estimate she has made of the implications of the decision not to ring fence specific funding for residential alcohol and drug services within the community care funding available from next April;
(2) what advice she proposes to give to local authorities concerning the priority to be given to the funding of residential alcohol and drug services within the ring fenced community care funding available from next April.
§ Mr. YeoMy right hon. Friend announced on 2 October that we are proposing to make available to local authorities next year a special transitional grant for their new responsibilities for community care. This will give them the freedom to determine the appropriate level of296W funding for all services, including residential care for alcohol and drugs misusers. Guidance to local authorities reminding them of the need to give proper weight to the provision of alcohol and drug services is being prepared and will be issued shortly.