§ Mr. BerryTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what assessment she has made of the implications for her community care policy of the absence of private old people's homes in Slough, given the proposal that Slough borough council should become a unitary authority; [24533]
(2) if she will make a statement on the potential effect on children on the children protection register when Berkshire is divided into six unitary authorities; [24535]
(3) if she will make a statement on the likely effects on social services provision of the proposed division of Berkshire into six unitary authorities. [24536]
282W
§ Mr. BowisAll new unitary authorities will be responsible for deciding how their statutory responsibilities for personal social services can best be discharged. On 12 May, the Department issued an advice document to local authorities entitled "Social Services: Maintaining Standards in A Changing World" under cover of local authority social services letter (95)5. Copies of the advice document are available in the Library. It draws attention to the special features of social services which the new authorities will need to consider if they are to deliver those services effectively to people who need them.