§ Mr. CousinsTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the local authorities who have been offered free consulting time prior to the introduction of community care; what was the basis for their selection; which local authorities have accepted; what was the cost to the Department of this initiative; and which consultancy firms were used in this initiative.
§ Mr. YeoSince September 1992 the community care support force has provided practical assistance to local and health authorities in their final preparations for implementing the caring for people reforms. As part of its programme, it has visited individual local and health authorities, by invitation. The support force has offered authorities assistance, including, consultancy support and expects to have committed, by the end of March when it finishes work, about £250,000 in this form of help to authorities. The support force has used a number of consultancy firms and its work also includes: the production of practical guidance and working seminars on key implementation tasks, an implementation helpline and a regular newsletter.