§ Mr. LuffTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what will be the final allocation in 1996–97 to social services authorities in England in respect of costs incurred as a result of the raising from 8 April of the capital limits for charges for residential accommodation. [19553]
§ Mr. DorrellFollowing consultation with the local authority associations about the implications of the changes to the capital limits, the Government have decided, subject to parliamentary approval of the 1996–97 main estimates, to make available £64.487 million for English social services authorities in 1996–97. The increase compared with the element for England underlying the figures published in the "Financial Statement and Budget Report, 1996–97", will be charged to the reserve and will not therefore add to the planned total of public expenditure for 1996–97. Subject to parliamentary approval, this provision will be made available to local authorities through a special grant in 1996–97; thereafter these resources will be taken into account in the calculation of the revenue support grant in the normal way. Consequential provisions will be made for Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.