§ Ms. LynneTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what information she has on the extent of charging by local councils for respite care; and if she will provide more funds for community care to councils so that they can provide this service free of charge.
§ Dr. MawhinneyThis information is not held centrally.
The Government take the view that local authorities should seek to recover the economic cost of providing a service wherever this can be done without causing hardship to the service user. In residential settings local authorities are required, by section 22 of the National Assistance Act 1948, to make charges, including the discretion to make a reduced charge to residents for the first eight weeks of their admission. Where non-residential respite care is provided, local authorities have discretionary powers under section 17 of the Health and Social Services and Social Security Adjudications Act 1983 to charge.
We are making available in 1993–94 a ring-fenced special transitional grant of £565 million to local authorities. This also includes £140 million for authorities' new responsibilities which makes allowance for improved respite care services to support carers.