§ Lord Holme of Cheltenhamasked Her Majesty's Government:
In the light of the substantial cutbacks made in budget allocation for independent sector residential care for the elderly in Northern Ireland in the year 1993–94, what infrastructure has been put in place to facilitate care in the community initiatives under the following categories; (a) Respite Care, (b) Day Care, (c) Outreach, (d) Day Sit, (e) Night Sit, (f) Emergency Care.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Northern Ireland Office (The Earl of Arran)Under the Government's reforms, health and social services boards have been given lead responsibility for the arrangement and purchase of residential and nursing home care, including independent sector provision. To support these new responsibilities the funds which would have been available through social security payments to help support individuals entering independent sector homes have been transferred to boards. Therefore the overall amount of resources available has not been reduced. Boards, however, will be expected to deploy these resources in the purchase of a wide range of community care services in response to the assessed needs of vulnerable individuals. Infrastructures for the provision of community care services at local level are the responsibility of each board to develop in accordance with departmental guidance.