§ Baroness Pitkeathleyasked Her Majesty's Government:
What plans they have for the special transitional grant in 1998–99.
§ Baroness Jay of PaddingtonThere will be a Special Transitional Grant of £350 million in 1998–99 for community care services. Unlike previous years, councils will not be required to spend 85 per cent. of the grant in the independent sector. It will, however, have a condition requiring local authorities to work closely with the National Health Service and to spend a part of the money on preventing people being unnecessarily in hospital, or being unnecessarily in residential or nursing home care following discharge from hospital.