§ Dr. Lynne JonesTo ask the. Secretary of State for Health what are the statutory responsibilities of local authorities to meet all needs assessed under the National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990; and within what time scale services should be provided. [8722]
§ Mr. BowisLocal authorities are required to assess people whom they think may require community care services, as defined under the NHS and Community Care Act 1990, and to decide on the basis of that assessment what, if any, services they should provide and how the needs of local people should be met.
A summary of local authorities' key powers and duties in community care under this Act and other legislation is set out in our document "A Framework for Local Community Care Charters in England", copies of which are available in the Library.
Local authorities are expected to publish their first local charters, based on this framework, in April 1996. These local charters will give people local information about the services and standards they can expect from their local social services departments, as well as from health and housing authorities.