§ Angela SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the outcome of the evaluation of the Quality114W Protects management action plans submitted to his Department by local authorities; and if he will make a statement. [80518]
§ Mr. HuttonAll local authorities submitted their Quality Protects Management Action Plans (MAPs) to the Department by the end of January. The Social Services Inspectorate (SSI) have now completed their evaluation of the MAPs and we have considered their findings. I am pleased to announce that all the MAPs have reached an acceptable standard, and I have written today to local authority chief executives to confirm that they will receive payment of their allocation of the children's special grant for 1999–2000, subject to Parliamentary approval. We shall be publishing a national overview report, summarising the key findings from the evaluation of the MAPs and identifying the development needs which will be addressed over the three years of the Quality Protects programme. The team of Quality Protects Regional Development Workers in partnership with SSI will be assisting local authorities in their work to deliver the high quality children's social services which the Government require.