§ Mr. LockTo ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to publish guidance on the operation of the Partnership Grant; and if he will make a statement. [69678]
§ Mr. HuttonWe aim to issue guidance on the Partnership Grant within the next few weeks. The Promoting Independence: Partnership Grant was announced in the White Paper, "Modernising Social Services", which was published on 30 November 1998. The White Paper included broad indications of the aims of the grant, which includes the development of services to promote the independence of social services clients in partnership with local health authorities. Local authorities were notified of their indicative allocations in Local Authority Social Services Letter (98)18, issued on 2 December 1998.