§ Mr. McMasterTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his latest assessment of the impact of local government reorganisation on the provision of services for disabled people; what guidelines he(a) has issued, and (b) intends to issue, to unitary authorities on the provision of services for and to disabled people; what arrangements he intends to put in place to ensure the continuation of services which are currently provided across the new local government authority boundaries; and if he will make a statement. [9238]
§ Sir Paul BeresfordAll new unitary authorities will be responsible for deciding how their statutory responsibilities for personal social services can best be598W discharged. On 12 May 1995 the Department of Health issued an advice document to all local authorities entitled "Social Services: Maintaining Standards in A Changing World", under cover of a 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.