§ Miss LestorTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what her Department is doing to ensure that local authorities have the time and the resources to publicise their services to children in need and fulfil their obligations to compile a register of children with disabilities; and if she will make a statement.
§ Mr. BowisTime is, alas, not in my gift. The level of resources needed to implement the Children Act 1989 was taken into account in the local government settlements for 1991–92 and 1992–93, the first full year of the Act. In 1992–93 standard spending for children's services was 15 per cent. above the level for 1990–91 in real terms. It is, however, for local authorities to decide on the allocation of resources of the various services for which they are responsible.