§ Ms Rachel SquireTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to require a set proportion of local authority expenditure on community care to be spent in the voluntary and private sectors; what considerations underlie those plans; and what consultation will take place before their implementation.
§ Lord James Douglas-Hamilton[holding answer 5 December 1994]: The Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994 has provided the Secretary of State with the power to direct authorities on the use of the considerable resources provided to them for community care. Where the use of these resources by an authority is judged to be inconsistent with Government policy and against the best interests of its clients, this new power will prove useful. Any authority in this position will generally have been in discussion with The Scottish Office prior to a decision to use the power.