§ Mr. Alfred MorrisTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what directions he has(a) issued and (b) proposes to issue to local authorities on the conduct of assessments and preparation of care plans arising from the judgment in the case of R v. London borough of Islington ex parte Rixon; what monitoring his Department has carried out of existing local practice; if all local authorities now act in accordance with the judgment; and if he will make a statement. [14665]
§ Mr. BurnsThe Department has issued both policy and practice guidance on assessment and care plans to local authorities, and we do not see any need for additional guidance, or directions, arising from this judgment. We expect local authorities to take account of this guidance, and, of course, to comply with the law. Assessment and 161W care planning are monitored as part of our general monitoring of community care, on which there have been a number of inspections and studies since 1993.