HC Deb 17 March 1994 vol 239 c841W
19. Mr. Wicks

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on community care policy.

Mr. Ancram

The community care reforms introduced in Northern Ireland on 1 April 1993 were first promulgated in the Department's 1990 policy document "People First", which is the equivalent of "Caring for People". These new arrangements for the provision of community care services by health and social services boards are intended to ensure that, as far as possible, people are cared for and supported in community-based settings rather than hospital.