Mr. William O'BrienTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what representations he has received from organisations in the voluntary sector in Northern Ireland concerning the new community care arrangements; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. AncramLEAD, a coalition of voluntary organisations involved with mentally handicapped people in Northern Ireland, wrote to my noble Friend Baroness Denton on 28 March 1994 about its concerns in relation to the implementation of the new community care arrangements. Officials from the Department of Health and Social Services are due to meet LEAD on 20 May 1994 to discuss these concerns.
Mr. William O'BrienTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if community care trusts in Northern Ireland will be obliged to set aside a predetermined and fixed proportion of their overall funding for care of the elderly in private establishments; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. AncramIt is for health and social services boards to determine the community services they will purchase for elderly people from a range of providers, including health and social services trusts, and the private and voluntary sectors. The Department of Health and Social Services does not require boards to spend a fixed proportion of their "People First" community care funds on services provided by the private sector. However, boards are expected to make full use of the private sector whenever it is appropriate and cost effective to do so.